Hospital meals—when it all works out

I used to work in a kitchen for a small healthcare facility. It was a daunting job. I was always scrambling to get food out the door in a timely manner and while the food was still hot. I cannot imagine what it must be like to work in food service for a massive medical complex. I am grateful any food gets delivered to my hospital room, but at the same time, I get grumpy when my meals are messed up.

Today at lunch, I order some vegetables, tea and two oranges. When my tray arrives, I receive the vegetables and tea; however, the two oranges are missing. This is the third time during this hospitalization my oranges have been forgotten. Since it is nearly 2:30 when I receive my lunch tray, I decide not to call the kitchen to ask for my oranges. I will just wait and order the oranges for supper.

For supper, I order two teas, milk and two oranges. When my tray arrives, there is one tea and a carton of milk. (One tea and two oranges are missing.) I instantly notice the error. Before the food service worker exits my room, I tell her I am missing items. The girl takes the meal ticket from my tray and promises to return with two oranges and a tea.

I wait almost 45 minutes. The girl does not return to my room. I call the food service number and tell the woman I did not get my oranges with my supper tray. The food service receptionist states the kitchen might be out of oranges. If the kitchen did not have oranges, is there something else I would like. I respond two containers of strawberries would be nice. The woman tells me she will contact the kitchen and get me my food.

Thirty minutes later, a food service worker is at my hospital room door. He has two oranges in his hands. I rejoice that the kitchen had oranges. Another 30 minutes pass and another food service employee is at my door. This worker has two small bowls of strawberries. I smile and nearly start laughing. “Well, I didn’t get my oranges for lunch, but I got two oranges and two small cups of strawberries for supper. All is well that ends well. Praise be to God!”