While Rachel was having a test run I raced home to take care of the dogs, clean up and change clothes.

When I got back her room was still empty. Almost before I could set the mail now for her to go through I heard a voice, “Mrs. Hall?’

I turned and there stood a priest.

Rachel is Catholic, but in the days of being at St. Vincent’s, we had not had a priest in the room. A couple of Eucharist priests to offer communion but not a priest.

Glancing at the clock I realized my wife had been gone longer than usual and then I told the priest I didn’t know when she would be back, but being married to a Protestant she doesn’t take Catholic communion right now.

“I was called because she’s having surgery this afternoon,’ he said quietly.

Sheer panic threatened to rip through my body. Dr. Dean Kumpuris has been outstanding, as has Dr. John Jones, a surgeon, but both had said there was a possibility of surgery, depending on what the tests dictated.

Finally, I got my breath and asked, surgery?

He looked down at a piece of paper and asked, “Did your wife fall and break a bone yesterday?’

No. She’s been unable to keep food down for almost two weeks.

“Is her first name (fill in a name, HIPAA laws and all that) and she’s related to (fill in a name)?” he asked.

No, I said with probably too much relief. He was in the wrong room.

A few minutes later a smiling Rachel was wheeled into the room. She is improving and has been since being admitted to St. Vincent’s.

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