Stairways in Unexpected Places

I had an appointment to see a specialist down in Toronto today. I'm always full of anxiety when I have to do this, it involves whole new people who I don't really have time to establish trust with. Walk in, drop trou, and let strangers examine my bare legs. I had fought against this consultation, figuring I didn't really need it because everything is pretty much under control and improving. But I was surrounded by a wall of insistence and simply gave up the fight.

So we arrived and the traffic around the hospital was horrible, just horrible. We finally found the address of the clinic and, to our shock, found that there was no sign of an accessible way in. Figuring that there must be (mustn't there?), we parked and Joe got out to scope out the situation. He returned saying that the entrance was only available to those who could climb stairs and we were to go back to the hospital and work our way in from there.

We had parked across, directly across, from the clinic. We had plopped down our 25$ payment. And now we were a long way from the accessible entrance. I double-checked our information from them. It was very detailed about what I needed to bring, what time I needed to be there, where I should park, it was all there. All but information about accessibility and the accessible entrance. This is a HOSPITAL.

I wheeled myself down the sidewalk, crossed over the street, and made my way to the entrance. The place was packed, everyone wore masks of course but, wow, there were a lot of people there. We had to do the COVID lightning round and then were sent to the information booth to find out how to get to the clinic.

Once there we realized that our leaving early paid off because, with all the bother about entrances and such, we were just on time. I was taken to a room by a nurse who was both all business and kind at the same time (as I keep insisting is possible). I undressed and put on a housecoat that I brought from home and got on the bed.

When she came back, I reported that I had a complaint.

I told her and she realized immediately that there was a problem. She told me what she was going to do about it. She ensured me she would effect change.

Then the flood of professionals came in and the consultation began.