Waiting is the worst part. Logically, Tim knows his husband is in the best possible place for the care he needs. But he's also behind doors that not even the name Wayne will open, waiting alone in a place that has caused him so much trauma in the past.
Well, perhaps not this particular hospital, but other medical centers and other medical professionals have all contributed to Jason's PTSD.
Tim can't even sit with him, hold his hand, and field questions so his husband doesn't have to. He can't tell the staff to speak up, that Jason is half deaf on one side and has damage on the other thanks to an accident years before. He can't give him a hug when he goes back for his scans and offer a smile when he returns.
What's worse, what's tearing Tim's guts up inside, is the guilt that he didn't listen when Jason first mentioned he wasn't well. Admittedly, they both thought the nausea was a side effect of the panic attack Jason suffered two days before. He'd spent the morning vomiting before a doctor appointment he couldn't put off any more. They chalked it up to anxiety and that it would pass once the visit was over.
The appointment might be over but the nausea remains. Chills and cold sweats have entered into the mix and Jason has spent the last couple of nights tossing restlessly in the living room where the floor is paneled rather than carpeted. It's not unusual for him to lie there--he runs warm to begin with and has said he enjoys a nap where the flooring is cool on his skin.
This morning when Tim woke up, Jason was still there, whimpering and restless. His eyes cracked open when Tim sat down in the armchair with his coffee. "Babe, I don't feel good," he'd said.
"I know," Tim had soothed. "When did you last take your nausea meds?"
They both know what a vicious cycle Jason's brain can get stuck in, how his body reacts to stressors and how in turn he'll fixate when there's nothing actually wrong. Many a virtual doctor visit has been had for exactly that.
But today, tears welled up in Jason's eyes when Tim brushed him aside. "I took them already," he'd said. "Nothing is working. I can't eat. I can't drink. I'm cold and hot and I fucking hurt. I know this shit is all probably in my head but I want to see a doctor and have them tell me that to my face."
Tim remembers all too well how he'd felt like he was humoring his husband when he snagged his tablet to look for the closest urgent care clinic. It's at the clinic where the PA prods Jason's abdomen and he curls up tight against the pressure.
"I think you might have appendicitis," she'd said and sent them on their merry way to the ER.
The whole drive, Tim felt like a damned tool. He's had appendicitis himself, he knows the symptoms, and has even gone through the surgery. How did he miss this?
At a stop light, Jason had placed a clammy hand over Tim's. "Don't beat yourself up over it, babe."
"I should have known..."
"You should have known shit--your symptoms were different."
This is true but is beside the point. "I'll stay with you," he says in a rush. "For as long as I can."
It ends up not being for very long. So here Tim sits in the cafeteria, nursing a cup of coffee and fucking around on his phone. Jason's maybe 500 feet away in a triage staging area, but it feels like miles. He has an IV for fluids and has been given medication for pain and the nausea. He's NPO in case he'll need surgery.
All of these things Tim knows from his own experience earlier in the year. He'd done it all by himself because Jason's PTSD wouldn't allow him to even set foot in the ER. He'd tried, oh had he tried, but Tim told him it would be okay, that he'd keep in touch by text and to keep his phone on him.
Jason might be able to walk in here now but he shouldn't be alone. But the ER is crowded and there are no extra seats in triage for guests. Jason had squeezed Tim's hand when the nurse told him he needed to wait elsewhere.
"Keep your phone on you, babe."
"I won't put it down."
And so he waits, gnawing on his guilt and feeling like the worst person ever.
96 notes
·
View notes
Some verified Gaza GFMs on Tumblr!
These gfms belong to organizers who have reached out to me and all of them are nowhere near their goals, there are a few more I'm going through right now but these are all verified. Please share and donate to help these families.
@ahmadturk00 is a verified gfm! Mohammed Skaik is raising funds for his cousin and their family to evacuate Gaza - Ahmad Al Turk's family is made up of seven people and are currently living in a tent - they are a newer gfm and need urgent support. (€1,332/ €70,000 - 4/30/2024)
@hlabarka is also a newer GFM but has been completely verified, she is raising the funds to evacuate with her three-year-old daughter and her husband from Gaza and into Egypt, she and her family have been forced to relocate in Gaza seven times. ($1,112/ $50,000 - 4/30/2024)
@maisonhijazi is organizing for Hamdi, a father in Gaza who is trying to evacuate his children to safety - they just had a baby girl while displaced in Gaza. Please help him get the funds he needs to evacuate his family to Egypt. ($6,852/$25,000 - 4/30/2024)
@mohammedfamily87 Tareq Abu Obaid is organizing for his friend Mohammad Mousa, Mohammed is trying to evacuate his three children and his wife - his house was airstriked back in October, and has lost several members of his family already. (€170/€80,000 - 4/30/2024)
@ahmednabubaker is organizing for Yusuf, an eight-year-old boy who is being threatened with kidney failure, and Yusuf's family - this campaign is for Yusuf and his family to be evacuated to Egypt so Yusuf can be treated and receive a kidney transplant. This is extremely urgent. (€1,489/€85,000 - 4/30/2023)
For a longer list of GFMs that have been individually verified, @el-shab-hussein has a huge masterlist of GFMs to check out and support
5K notes
·
View notes
MARCILLE: So I was wondering...what kind of person is your wife?
ESPRIT DE CORPS (Easy: Success): She'll never be satisfied with bare minimum answers. She wants to know more about you, to connect with you on a genuine interpersonal level.
LOGIC (Easy: Failure): This is obviously not what you want. You are an impenetrable fortress of solitude, and she should respect that.
PAIN THRESHOLD: Also, it's an embarrassing subject.
AUTHORITY (Medium: Success): Well fuck that- Chilchuck Tims does NOT get embarrassed, especially not in front of a mere Wöman. You absolutely cannot tell her the real truth about your marriage and how it ended. It would harm your professional reputation. You've got to redirect this line of questioning.
1. "I'd rather not talk about my personal life on the clock."
2. [Drama- Legendary 14] "What about YOUR love life, Marcille? Have you met any cute boys lately? Tell me about all the cute BOYS you're into, Marcille."
3. Simply ignore her question and hope she doesn't ask it again.
4. [Suggestion- Challenging 12] Lie convincingly about a less embarrassing situation than your wife leaving you and moving in with your daughter. It's very important that whatever lie you come up with is less interesting than the real story, and puts you in a good light to protect your reputation and maintain your professionalism.
CHECK FAILURE!
You:
5K notes
·
View notes