If it is going to be bad news, I would rather not know.

After the stint at the emergency room, I go home and immediately do anything in my power to put off going to the hospital. At this point I have justified it in my mind that there is nothing wrong with me, and that I must have just been over tired and fallen asleep behind the wheel. The last few trips to the doctor made me feel like they didn't fix anything so I was defiantly avoiding going. A few weeks pass.


Finally Sarah makes an appointment with me for a doctor here in Kent. I agree to go, but am terrified. What in the world could have caused someone that is wide awake to fall asleep, or blackout behind the wheel. Narcolepsy, Diabetes or worse?

The doctor immediately advises me that in this type of situation it is best to check three things. Blood, head and heart. So he orders a series of tests on me. Starting with the heart I have two tests. One of them is an ultra sound a few days later. It appears that everything is normal, but the tester is always quick to point out that the doctor will have to review it and get back to me.

They also take my blood, no suspicion of being diabetic, although I have a history in my family.

Now for the brain, the point that scares me the most.

The first test I have is the EKG, basically what they do is test how your brain responds to stimulus, they place electrodes on your head and flash lights and monitor your brain activity. Once again, I get the feedback that the doctor will follow up with me.

Now for the final test, the MRI or magnetic brain scan. Should be a joy! My Dad takes me to this, its May 23rd. I sit in a long tube while a giant magnet spins around me and takes images my brain. My Dad sits in the waiting room and talks to a man who is fighting cancer. I remember thinking how hard that would be, he explained to him that he had been in tests all day. After about an hour of what sounded like an muffled jack-hammer near my head I get dressed. Put my metal watch back on and get ready to leave. I head home with every intent to go to work that day. On my way out the MRI technician explains to me that she can give me a CD of my brain. I ask her if it would be my actual brain or just a copy of the pictures she took, she laughs and tells me "just pictures"…


a shot of my head

I am now done with the tests, lets cross our fingers and hope nothing serious is found. I look at the shots of my brain. Cool, but I don't really know what I am looking at. But I am slightly relieved that there appears to be an actual brain inside my skull.

I head home, grab a cup of Jo with my Dad and begin to get ready for work.

I am almost ready for work when I get a frantic phone call from Sarah.

"Hello"
"Jeff, I just talked to the nurse. The doctor would like to see you today, as in now."

to be continued….