I was somewhat pleased it wasn’t me. He appeared prepared to draw blood not only literally but metaphorically if you understand what I’m saying. Two more patients were attended to before I heard a quiet, “Next,” that was me. I got up confidently and went into the laboratory thinking by now he would have cooled down. I took the seat, mentally putting on my empathy cap.
I would not be like the others and become critical or skeptical of this gentleman that was being completely misunderstood. He ripped open the pack housing the needle and fitted it in the syringe. I smiled to show I wasn’t with the fuming crowd of skeptical human bees that had ruined his day. He tied the thin rubber tube around my inner elbow firmly and began the search for my vein. The lab technician began by slapping my elbow to try and force out a vein. It was uncomfortable but I continued to maintain calm. This wasn’t going to take long. However, he still could not locate my vein!