nemesis
03-19-2006, 11:49 PM
The other night, I went onto my neighboring unit to verify the Officer's count. As I walked down the range to begin, I saw an inmate standing half in and half out of a room (dorm style facility), with his *** sticking out. I though maybe he had gas - they do that quite a bit. As I approached, I hollered to him that it was count and he needed to get into his room. He slowly turned around, acted as if he didn't see me and walked directly into the room across the hall. I stopped at the room before I started count and asked him what room he belonged in. He replied that he was currently in the right room. I asked for his ID and verified that it was indeed his room. I asked, "What the hell were you doing across the hall?" He said he was telling the Irish guy "Happy St Patrick's Day". I looked across the hall and did the same. Then I turned back to the one I was checking and asked why he couldn't just tell him from his own room. He said the Irish guy couln't hear him. I said, "Maybe he hears you, but is ignoring you. Are you on heavy medication or just stupid?" He said he was on medication, so I asked what it was. He replied it was Tylenol 3. I said, "That's like candy! What's the matter with you?!" Here's the kicker. He looked at me with a blank stare and quietly said, "I just had brain surgery." I let it go at that, because count had been delayed long enough. I figured I would check with health services and determine if he needed discipline. Well, he was telling the truth.
Later, one of his cellies told me he had been acting goofy all day and was giving everyone the creeps. I told him to send the guy to see me. I stood in the corridor between our units and watched him shuffle my way. He walked right past me and onto my unit to look for me! Finally he turned around and looked in my general direction (6' away from him). I waved my hands and said, "Hey I'm right here." He walked over. He couldn't focus. I asked if he was ok and why he had surgery. He did his best to explain that he had been seeing things out the corner of his eye (that weren't there) and that he has a malignant tumor near his optical nerve. I explained to him that everything was ok and he wasn't in trouble (hoping to calm him). He then started to mak less and less sense, so I told him to return to his unit and rest. He stared at me as I walked toward my unit. I noticed his gaze and tried to get through to him and he became more incoherent. Suddenly, his right arm tensed, his face contorted, then his entire body became stiff as a board. I knew he was seizing, but he hit the floor before I could reach him. I radioed for a nurse while an inmate who was passing by assisted. The inmate that fell out, is still in the hospital. Apparently, his tumor has grown significantly since his last surgery and he isn't doing well.
For a short time, I started to almost, almost feel guilty. I wondered if I triggered something. The inmates had a hayday with that. They busted my balls all night about "scaring him to death". They knew it wasn't the case, but they had to give me ***** anyway. It seemed to take the wind out of everyone's sails. They were sooo quiet the rest of the shift. The unit was even on "auto pilot" while I typed the critical incident report. They were actually more cooperative than usual. Everyone realized that all anyone wants to do is get out.
By the way, I'm sorry my posts are always so long. I respect how everyone else can put their thoughts into just a few lines.
Later, one of his cellies told me he had been acting goofy all day and was giving everyone the creeps. I told him to send the guy to see me. I stood in the corridor between our units and watched him shuffle my way. He walked right past me and onto my unit to look for me! Finally he turned around and looked in my general direction (6' away from him). I waved my hands and said, "Hey I'm right here." He walked over. He couldn't focus. I asked if he was ok and why he had surgery. He did his best to explain that he had been seeing things out the corner of his eye (that weren't there) and that he has a malignant tumor near his optical nerve. I explained to him that everything was ok and he wasn't in trouble (hoping to calm him). He then started to mak less and less sense, so I told him to return to his unit and rest. He stared at me as I walked toward my unit. I noticed his gaze and tried to get through to him and he became more incoherent. Suddenly, his right arm tensed, his face contorted, then his entire body became stiff as a board. I knew he was seizing, but he hit the floor before I could reach him. I radioed for a nurse while an inmate who was passing by assisted. The inmate that fell out, is still in the hospital. Apparently, his tumor has grown significantly since his last surgery and he isn't doing well.
For a short time, I started to almost, almost feel guilty. I wondered if I triggered something. The inmates had a hayday with that. They busted my balls all night about "scaring him to death". They knew it wasn't the case, but they had to give me ***** anyway. It seemed to take the wind out of everyone's sails. They were sooo quiet the rest of the shift. The unit was even on "auto pilot" while I typed the critical incident report. They were actually more cooperative than usual. Everyone realized that all anyone wants to do is get out.
By the way, I'm sorry my posts are always so long. I respect how everyone else can put their thoughts into just a few lines.