MEDICAL DRAMA THAT I COULD DO WITHOUT

The last 48 hours have been, shall we say, interesting.

Sometime during the early morning hours on Saturday, as I was walking to catch the 60 bus on Allegheny Avenue after stopping at a 7-11, I woke up surrounded by two female good samaritans and two medics from the Philadelphia Fire Department.  I have no idea how I ended up on the ground, nor do I know why it happened, but suffice to say, I was knocked out somehow.

One of the good samaritans stated that I had suffered from a seizure, which was very strange, since I've never suffered from a seizure before in my life.  At least that I'm aware of (I obviously don't recall my medical history from childhood).

Within minutes, I was at the emergency room at Temple Univerisity Medical Center - Episcopal Campus on Lehigh Avenue, Kensington.

After about three hours of sitting in a waiting room, it was determined that I had suffered a "closed brain injury" (read: a concussion), though I really have no idea how everything went down.

One minute I was crossing Westmoreland at Kensington; the next minute, I was on the ground.  Nothing was taken from me, so it couldn't have been a robbery.  Almost all of my aches and pains are on the left side of my body - abrasions to the elbow, bruises to the shoulder, thigh, and chest area - though I also had a laceration to the right ear and a bump on the head behind the right ear.

I get to the ER at Episcopal, and after a CAT scan, I was sent on my way three hours later.  The ER staff at Episcopal (1) never requested to see my ID during registration, or if there was a registration, I wasn't aware of it, (2) did not check any of my vital signs, and (3) didn't really do much testing other than the CAT scan.

So, after wondering if the ER at Episcopal rushed my treatment - or supposed lack thereof - I went to Chester County Hosptial to get a second opinion.  Let's just say the testing performed was night and day different from Episcopal.

I had a light flashed into my eyes on at least three separate occasions during my stay at CCH (compared to none - that I'm aware of - at Episcopal), I had blood drawn, and a urine sample was taken.  There was no need for any X-Rays, since there was no visible bruising (this despite a hell of a lot of pain).

The diagnosis, however, was the same.  No damage or any after effects from the concussion, nor was there any way that it could be determined if I in fact had a seizure (or if whomever called it in to 9-1-1 maybe misinterpreted what they saw as a seizure; I don't know).

Suffice to say that at least I'm still up and walking around, albeit with a hell of a lot of pain.  I can only raise my left arm to a 60 degree angle or so without feeling pain, lifting my left leg is pretty painful, and bending down to tie my shoes isn't exactly a ball of fun either.

But, at least I'm alive... Thank god...

In closing, let's just say I wouldn't wish a trip to the Episcopal ER on my own worst enemy.

SENSELESS SHOOTING AT SEPTA STATION

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police are investigating a shooting at a major West Philadelphia transit hub in which a high school student was killed yesterday afternoon.

At around 13:30, police were dispatched to the SEPTA Market-Frankford El station at 52nd Street for a report of a shooting.  Michael Anthony Parker-Barham III, 17, a student at University City High School, was struck three times - in the chest, shoulder, and buttocks - as he entered the station.

Barham was removed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Investigators say that at least 14 shots were fired into the station.  Police have not revealed a motive for the shooting, however, at least one person told the Philadelphia Daily News that the victim was reportedly among a group of teens who stood outside the station selling loose cigarettes for 50 cents a piece.

Not so surprisingly, investigators appear to have been stymied by people who may have been at the scene but chose not to stick around to help solve the crime.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that at least a dozen people may have been in the area at the time of the shooting.

Of course, the video cameras at the El station should be able to provide clues as to the identity of the shooter.  Presuming, of course, they were actually working, which, given SEPTA's track record over the years, is no guarantee.

This is the second major violent incident at a SEPTA station in as many months.  A man was stabbed at the Oregon Avenue station on the Broad Street Subway last month, in an incident where numerous passengers fled the station after the stabbing, but none reportedly could be bothered to call 9-1-1.

Yeah, I'm sure people still feel safe riding SEPTA.  Just remember to (1) bring your bulletproof vests and (2) remember to call 9-1-1 instead of SEPTA Police.