FARGO COUNTER MEASURERS, SABER LABORATORIES


In 1996, while evaluating a Parkinson's patient for potential tube feeding, I stumbled into a situation that was anything but routine. Little did I know that this would lead to a unique friendship with the one and only Mr. Leo Jones. The scene? A bustling, three-bed hospital room. I was at A Bed, discussing saliva management, confidently assuming that C Bed, tucked by the window, was unoccupied.

Wrong.

Without warning, the curtain whipped back, revealing an angry man who demanded to know who I was and what I was doing. Startled, I fumbled an apology, wondering why this C-bedd occupant was so agitated. His frustration felt noteworthy enough to document in my daily notes—after all, this level of bedside hostility wasn’t precisely on the admission forms.

Despite the initial tension, our encounter sparked an unexpected friendship. Leo, a man with a résumé with legendary expertise in law enforcement countermeasures, shared stories that alternated between awe-inspiring and downright hilarious. C Bed, it turned out, was the hospital’s best-kept secret—just like Leo himself.

Curious about my unintentional faux pas, I asked the RN what the deal was with C Bed. “Oh, he’s usually great,” she shrugged. “Always on the phone, working, or chatting with visitors. No idea why he got upset.”

The feeling was mutual. Later, the RN reported that Leo had asked about me. “I told him not to worry,” she said, smirking. “You’re the speech-language pathologist... and you connect with angels.”

And just like that, I transitioned from an unintentional intruder to someone Leo Jones was eager to know better. It was a testament to the power of our professional roles, proving that even countermeasure legends can’t resist a bit of celestial charm.


Rapport with Mr. Jones

A few days after meeting the unforgettable Mr. Leo Jones, I was asked to screen him for swallowing. This time, the curtain remained still as I knocked and entered his room. He greeted me warmly, a striking shift from our first encounter.

Mr. Jones, equipped with a permanent feeding tube connected to a rolling metal stand, graciously explained, "The doctor said I can’t eat or drink. So, here I am. No food. No drinks." He paused, then repeated, "Doctor said...blah, blah, blah," with a deadpan delivery that deserved a stand-up gig.

I completed the screening and promptly recommended a full evaluation. The next day, I met his wife, Helen, who echoed his sentiment: “The doctor said blah, blah, blah.” Apparently, "blah" was their shorthand for medical overkill.

Before long, I had Leo enjoying mechanical soft foods and thin liquids. He went from NPO (nothing by mouth) to relish a celebratory meal at the Golden Gate Yacht Club, where he once served as Commandant. It was a triumph for both his taste buds and my career.

Months later, Leo told Helen, "I’m done with the tube. Never again." Around that time, he casually asked, “By the way, is it true you talk to a guardian angel?”

Caught off guard, I stammered. “Depends...did she tell you I was coming?”

From his sly smile, I knew I had met my match in wit and willpower. Leo Jones wasn’t just a patient; he was a legend in the making.