You know, this Dargan Boy has seen a lot of things in his life; he’s had a few scrapes and adventures along the way too.
I’ve been to Vietnam in ’67, knocked over a telephone pole in ’72, worked 34 years in prison experiencing a half dozen prison riots, taken housing trailers to Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005, had a libation and burger in a tavern when a shot rang out and a few more incidentals.
Even had a ‘mange’ fox die behind my easy chair in the dining room a couple years ago; that’s a long story.
I thought all the exciting stuff and adventures were just about over for one fellow’s lifetime.
But I was surprised to discover even one more rarity was awaiting me.
Are you ready for this one?
Robots are used in medical surgeries.
May I share this story with you?
I’d been having a little discomfort with my gallbladder lately, went to see my Surgeon Frank Collins, who also happens to be a good friend.
I give him full credit for saving my life on at least one occasion, and still ‘thank’ him for being part of my journey. He even likes to read my columns, and we’ve had many good conversations over the years.
Some of them a little serious but always inclusive of a laugh or two.
He always has a tendency to surprise me sometimes with his medical expertise.
Yesterday, as I arrived at the Berkeley Medical Center Clinic, same day surgery door, I was expecting to have a routine day and deposit my gallbladder in the disposal.
My preparation for surgery was ‘impeccable;’ all the nurses and medical staff were most professional. And as my stomach was shaved, vitals were taken, tubes were hooked up, I was about ready to have my gallbladder removed.
Only tiny glitch I have every time was attempting to put my operating gown on, cover my beautiful bare cold butt, and tie those three strings you never can see in the back; I always tell the nurses that one day I’m going to invent a very ‘simple’ robe to use and put on ~ I will become a millionaire overnight.
Well, anyhow, if you have ever had surgery, you know the good doctor always comes in before and has a conversation with you and goes over the process.
My good doctor and friend Frank Collins came in to my little cube and did the same.
He said, “Pete, I may be using the robot today for assistance in your procedure.” I was wondering to myself what the robot’s name was and how in the world would you let a robot into the operating room.
I was anxious to hear his briefing. He was beginning to act like Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy on that old Star Trek series, and I was in space awaiting surgery.
He said the use of a ‘robotic assistant’ in surgeries is something new being implemented around the medical neighborhood; but he added ‘the robot’ was like an assistant.
Meticulously, he is a very good surgeon, who advised me that surgical procedures have advanced a long way, but suggests that he doesn’t believe robots, in the near future, will be able to perform entire surgeries without ‘human guidance’.
The doctor gave me a brief lesson on how the surgery would go, and as always, I had complete and total confidence in him.
I was then transported to the operating room; oxygen applied over my mouth and that good sleeping juice took me to Lyla land.
I didn’t know the robot’s name so I called him ‘Frank Jr’.
The doctor did a good job, with his new friend, the robot. I was discharged, and added my experience to my adventure list ~ ‘.
If you should see ‘Frank Jr’ along the way, give him my regards, in helping the good doctor with those procedures.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is coming your way.
