Exposure

"Exposure to hazardous bodily fluids".  He dropped the hospital paperwork on the island counter as though it were only some junk mail he had gathered from the mail box. I saw the headline on the top page, but chose to ignore it.  I say "ignore" but really I felt the slightest tinge of fear run through my body for that split second.  I'd look them over later, but not now. Now, I just wanted to put my hands on his broad shoulders and welcome him home.  It was late he had worked nearly 13 hours, then had the 40 minute bay area commute home to our suburb.  Even after 8pm brake lights line the freeway.  The kids were already in bed.  Dinner of his choice was still steaming in the crock pot as I hurried to prepare his plate.  How are you? What exactly happened? The details? He sat on his reclining chair and directed me as to what he would like on his plate.  He knew I was eager to do anything at all for him tonight.  After the day he had, I wanted him to know that he always had good things to come home to. "Not now," he said, "I don't want to talk about it while I'm eating." He flipped the TV on and we watched Cops just like we do every Saturday night. 

He had called me in the late morning that day. He informed that he was dispatched to a domestic dispute in one of the apartment complexes in Bay Town. He arrived to find a highly intoxicated black male screaming and out of control, naked.  Naked Drunk while handcuffed was still not complying and when CA Cop was shouting his orders Naked Drunk spit in his face. The toxic liquid went into CA Cop's nose, mouth, eyes.

I didn't know what to say. Disgusting. I'm so sorry. He was fine. He was just irritated because now he had to leave work to go to the hospital for blood work. He also got some of the guy’s blood on his arm, apparently. 

So rationally, I know that the odds of him getting transferred anything "hazardous" via saliva are probably extremely small and CA Cop did not have any open cuts in the areas of the blood exposure. Logically, I totally knew that. But what I don't know is how often is this the type of call that I will get? "Hey, babe, gotta get my blood drawn and tested for horrendous incurable diseases because some piece of crap druggy decided to fight with me?" We are not even nine months into his career.  We are rookies. I'm a rookie at being a cop wife. This was the moment that I decided to write this blog.  I really felt alone.  I felt like I wanted to talk to another wife or another officer.  Just because I have grown to learn that you have to be a part of this police world to fully understand it.  From the applications to the testing to the academy to the swearing in to FTO, you have to live it to "get" it. So wives and officers, welcome me into this blog world and enlighten me, in an officer's career how typical is this scenario? What's been your experience? Enlighten me, please.

CA Cop received a tetanus shot and they drew his blood. Results should be in this week, but honestly, we are not concerned. He got a foot rub, sweet pork nachos for dinner, and homemade sour cream vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese filling. He's fine, just another day doing what he loves.