I had two patients today that inspired me to a point that they made me emotional when I would go in their rooms. It wasn't anything they said to me specifically about myself or the care I've given them. It was simply them just being who they are. Both patients in fairly bleak situations. One in for kidney transplant rejection back at square one with end stage renal disease doing dialysis and the other with ovarian cancer that metastasized.
Both of these patients were in such high spirits. SO incredibly sweet. Smiling. Happy. As if they just gave birth to their first child and nothing could be better. I know very well that this is a coping mechanism and eventually there will come a day that they finally cry or get sad but their personalities won't let them dwell too long in self pity. They have the personalities of enjoying the moment while it lasts because tomorrow is not promised. So instead of crying the day away in self pity regarding their diagnosis they are chipper. Thankful. Welcoming. I can't put into words how it affected me today.
Especially the patient with ovarian cancer. Every time I went into the room the patient was SO sweet. Always smiling. Positive. Thankful. It was so inspiring. Especially when we live in a world that is becoming more and more selfish. A me me me type world. It is so exquisitely refreshing to come in contact with people like these patients I had today. They don't use their illness or diagnoses as an excuse. They don't use it as a crutch. They don't use it as an excuse to have a nasty attitude to their families, friends, health care team, ect. It's amazing.
People like this make me want to give them the world and I would if I could. I could tell these patients are great people in general because their rooms were packed to the brim all day long with visitors. People they had not seen in years coming to visit. What that tells me is that these patients have touched a lot of people in good ways. Regardless of what it was it was enough to make an impact for them to be concerned about the patient being in the hospital.
They made me think about how that is my goal in life. To touch people in a positive way. Make a difference and be remembered in a positive light. It doesn't matter what it is whether it was helping someone write their resume, get a job, holding a door open, going with them to a doctors appointment, being there to listen when they were going through a hard time, partying with them on an important occasion, setting them up on a blind date that they end up marrying, whatever...it could be anything. It's just the goal of making a positive impact on anyone I come in contact with even if it's just a smile.
I'll go out of my way for someone I have just met.That is just me. I don't expect anything in return nor do I want anything in return. If I help you do something, get something, achieve something I am sincerely doing it because I WANT to. I don't want credit for it. I don't want you to pay me back in any fashion. I am just happy that you're happy and that I could help.
I am incredibly delighted I had the privilege to care for these two patients today. They have impacted me in so many ways and they don't even know it. That is the greatest pleasure of service professions. Often our patients impact us on a deeper level than we impact them. How do you thank someone for that? It's too emotional to even say or write out. I wouldn't even know where to begin...all I know is,
thank you would be a prodigious understatement.
I am eternally grateful.
Until next time.
-Norah
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