'Twas the night before Christmas
when all through the OR
No one was stirring like they usually are.
No surgeries were scheduled for the very next day
And all those on call hoped to keep it that way.

The staff were all snuggled at home in their beds
And visions of the holiday danced in our heads.
I'm in my flannel relaxed by my tree
The cat from my neighbor curled up on my knees.

My phone gave a ring and gave me a start
I knew who it was down deep in my heart.
The cat on my lap fuzzed up with a hiss
And hit the floor running as if she'd been dissed.

The supe was all calm with a cool level head
It gave me the feeling I had nothing to dread.
I put on my coat to my car I did dash
My car gave a roar and I moved in a flash.

The moon gave a luster on the damn fallen snow
I shudder from cold that was zero below.
In front of my wondering eyes should appear
A man on a bike dressed like a reindeer WT ???

I arrived to the hospital, to the OR I flew
Passing the ER and its usual zoo.
I changed into scrubs while noting my flannel
I laughed because when home
I forgot to dismantle.

The case cart sat in a room without clutter
With the staff that was with me,
things would run smooth as butter.
We set up the room as quick as a wink
And I hustled to PACU before you could blink.

On a stretcher, a patient, so lively and quick
I swore when I saw him he looked like Saint Nick.
He'd been dressed all in fur from his head to his foot
And a little bit tarnished with ashes or soot.
His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry
his cheeks were all rosy, his nose like a cherry.
I checked in his chart for his BAC level
It made me feel guilty and somewhat bedeviled.

He had a round face and a distended belly
And it shook when he moved like a bowl full of jelly.
At 131 kilos, he was chubby and plump
I clipped and I prepped his prominent bump.

Notwithstanding his problem
he seemed a right jolly old elf
I smiled in my mask in spite of myself.
The lights in the OR caught the luster and glow
To the beard on his chin, which was as white as the snow.

Dr. Great, not a word said but went straight to his work
In 20 minutes flat he turned with a jerk.
In laying a finger aside of his nose
He gave us a nod and out the door he then goes.

More rapid than eagles the courses we came
And we cheered and shouted and called out our names.
Now Eileen and Gerri, Liz, Thelma and Kate
On Curtis, Arsenio, Herndon and Paula it's late.
From the floor of the room to the top of the wall
We clean it, we mop it, we dash away all.

We sprang to our cars, to our team gave a whistle
Away we all flew like the down on a thistle.
So on to our houses the coursers we flew
Back to our beds and families, too.
Now back in my flannel with the cat snug and warm
Like any other call, to me this was the norm.

As I drifted to sleep I heard on the roof
I think it was prancing and pawing of 32 hoofs.
But I know that I heard when they all took to flight
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night. OSM

On behalf of Paula and all of your friends here at Outpatient Surgery Magazine, happy holidays and a blessed new year to you and yours.