Free Announcer Aika Kanda Reflects Fiercely on a Certain “Nurse Call” While in the Hospital

The other day, I wrote a column titled “Vocal Fold Polyps: The Untold Story of Their Birth. This time, I would like to write about the hospital stay for the removal of the polyp.

The surgery itself took about 5 to 15 minutes. It is said to be so simple that it can be done in a day, depending on the location. However, the hospital that took care of me this time was a cautious place, and I was hospitalized for two nights and three days.

Usually at home, he hardly sits down or stops moving except when he eats. He is a person who does chores today that can be done tomorrow, and he hates time spent idly doing nothing. Therefore, as soon as I entered the hospital room, I felt impatient with the quiet time passing by (wasting my precious life!). I felt impatient.

In order to do something, I immediately applied to go out, which I am allowed to do only once during my hospital stay. I went to a convenience store and thought about it. (After the surgery, I’ll have a candy party by myself!) and my favorite extra-fine Pocky and Chipster. (After dinner, I’ll have a dessert to refresh my palate!) and eclairs for two nights. (Breakfast on the last day, hotel style!) and orange juice. I bought what I needed for my little event during my hospital stay.

It is still early afternoon when I return to the hospital room. I changed into my pajamas. (I’ve been dressed like this …… since daylight.) I sit on the bed feeling guilty. To begin with, the only thing prohibited in this hospitalization is speaking out. I don’t have to keep my body lying down, and my vocal cords don’t feel any pain, so I have no postoperative pain. My head is still spinning as usual, and there are no dietary restrictions. For someone like me, it’s a hilarious hell. To keep my eyes occupied, I turn on the TV. Normally, I’d say, “Aika, I’m hungry,” or “Aika, what should I wear today?” I couldn’t watch the TV calmly, but at that time, I could watch it for several tens of minutes.

Then, through the window behind the TV, I saw the rooftop of the building next door. A man and a woman were chatting happily alone. It was a ten-story office building. Are they co-workers? But the distance between them was too close. What does it mean that they are going all the way to the rooftop to have a conversation when they could have done it at work?　My mind whirled and …… flashed. (It’s an affair in the office!　No doubt, I witnessed the scene!) It’s getting kind of fun. From there, I was busy alternately checking the TV and the rooftop. I was happy to be able to spend time only on my trivial interests without anyone interrupting me.

And so dinner was served. I had a set meal of grilled salt fish, which was not light and tasty. I also had an after-dinner éclair, and the lights went out so early I thought I was a baby. Looking back, it was just an exciting day of watching TV and infidelity, and filling up on the delicious food that was brought to us. Hospitalization is …… the best!

A nurse call that I reflected on intensely.

Finally, the day of surgery. I changed into my surgical gown and was waiting for the nurse to pick me up. I don’t remember much after that, probably due to the general anesthesia. The next thing I saw was the ceiling of my hospital room; the nurse told me I could eat in 3 hours, and finally the time came. (Yo!) Finally, I ate an extra-fine Pocky and a Chipster. The endless loop of sweet and salty that I had been waiting for!　Then I repeated the process of looking at the TV and the rooftop.

This time was pleasant. I thought it was justice to keep moving with housework and work every day, but I guess I was just assuming.　Do I actually like time that doesn’t produce anything?　But if I realized that, I wouldn’t be able to go back to my old life. ……

Dinner was a set meal of sauteed chicken. I put the chicken in my mouth and chew it. I also took a sip of the miso soup…… and at that moment, (impossible!!!) The miso soup was cold…first proper meal in 24 hours, and hot drinks are OK, but why!　Without thinking, I had to press the nurse call. On the writing board, I asked, “Could you please reheat it?” I told them. …… should not be pressed for such a thing. I reflected furiously as I drank my warm miso soup and vowed never to do it again.

Then I said goodbye to my hospital stay. A woman who has experienced freedom, comfort, and a new kind of reflection for the first time. Would she ever be able to return to her old life? Fearfully, I walked out of the hospital, feeling for the first time in three days the blue sky, the cold wind, and the sound of cars. Then I saw the faces of my family at ……. (Oh, I can’t wait to see them! （I can’t wait to see them!) My feet naturally moved forward. My body blended smoothly into the real world, and the scenery that should have been familiar to me seemed to sparkle. I was on my way home as fast as I could. Any lingering regrets about my hospital stay were already gone.

From the June 2, 2023 issue of FRIDAY