Bob Cramer's Blog

It is 5AM on a Wednesday, just a few days before New Year’s. As Covid has raised its ugly head again, I look back on 2021 both from a personal perspective and as a world citizen with a renewed understanding that health really is our greatest asset. This year proves once again that we can never take it for granted.

I feel most fortunate and thankful to modern medicine for all it has given me: a summer bout with a breakthrough COVID infection was totally manageable thanks to vaccines; a spring muscular back flare-up was treated like a champ with steroids; and this fall’s hip replacement surgery has left me with a major new piece of hardware, a new addition to Team Cramer that my body welcomes with open arms and slightly hip-restricted legs.

One funny story stands out among this serious stuff. The day before my hip surgery, a Sunday, I was hanging out at my fancy- schmancy country club trying to get some last minute encouragement. I was questioning a friend of mine who has had both hips replaced when a young man walked by, overhearing our conversation. He informed us that he was an anesthesiologist and he inquired about the surgery, the doctor, and the practice I was using, etc.

He said that his medical group does the anesthesia for my surgeon, and he asked if I wanted to know who would be working on me. Begrudgingly, I said yes, and he immediately went on his phone to see which one of his partners was scheduled in the morning. Meanwhile, he was also having a conversation with another guy about fantasy football while a Packers and Chiefs game blared in the background.

So as he talked and piddled on his phone, I began to question whether I really wanted advanced notice who was going to put me to sleep and hopefully wake me up, my life in their hands. But it was too late as my new doctor friend continued to search his physician database while simultaneously discussing his fantasy players.

Finally, the verdict was rendered. “Oh, he is highly inconsistent,” the young doctor pronounced.

No anesthesia necessary, I fainted right on the spot.