The Patient

Thursday was back-surgery day for Don here in Casper. The surgery went well - a disk was replaced and three spurs were removed. All being proof that his previous reluctance to pitch in at elk camp may have been justified, as Travis abashedly admitted. Each time the hospital staff asked what he needed, Don good naturedly said "a fifth of bourbon and a cigarette." On day two it was not a joke. He had gotten "edgy" and fed up with all the tubes, and left to his own devices, he removed his own catheter and ended up on the floor in a mess. The doctor and hospital staff were now ready to accommodate his special needs and, after consulting Wyoming statutes, an order for Crown Royale was processed by the pharmacy. It was a hospital first. However, even then the patient was not quite in the mood to totally cooperate. The hospital's attempt to get him to request the contraband, was now met with "...are you saying I'm an alcoholic?!", "I'm 75 and can buy my own liquor!", you mean you got to have a prescription to buy liquor now in Casper?", "Just do whatever you want...". The head nurse exasperatedly sent him off grounds with an orderly to have a smoke. The orderly was kind of glad to have one too. After two cigarettes, he mellowed out, and 18 cc's of Crown Royale was waiting for him when we got back inside. He nursed it the rest of the day.