Ingrate

There are lots of stories about people who had brushes with death who, because of that brush, went on to dramatically change their lives - reordering priorities, usually putting people in front of product rather than the other way around.

Donald wasn't one of them. Oh, he had that dance with death all right. One day on the production line he just keeled over. He worked in a more isolated section so if Phil hadn't been taking a shortcut back to his office and if Phil hadn't radioed Andy who knew CPR and who just happened to be in the building whereas he was normally out on the road, Donald would have died there in front of his assembly machine.

The paramedics arrived in minutes. CPR isn't exactly hard labor but ten minutes takes its toll. Andy was starting to cramp up just as the EMTs took over. They asked quick-fire questions and went straight for their defibrillator paddles. After the fourth shock through the chest they found a pulse and whisked Donald to the nearest trauma center where, after angioplasty, counseling, and physical therapy (less than four days total), he was back home for a week then back on the job albeit at a slower, light duty pace. The wonders of modern medical science.

While he was still recovering in the hospital, Donald was visited by friends from work and from the bar. Phil and Andy came by and told him about the string of coincides that, all the medical personnel involved agreed, saved his life. Donald smiled and laughed and thanked them all around.

Stories abound involving deep friendships made through such lifesaving partnerships. This isn't one of them. Donald and Phil and Andy never spoke much before the incident and once back at work the most they did was to wave at one another in passing.

Back at work, they put him at a desk arranging invoices by dates and then alphabetically. His doctor had him on light duty for three months which kept him from his seat at the assembly line.