Monday, December 28, 2009

(post #2 for today)
It Was a Privilege
It is hard to explain to others the experience of being a doctor. The way I practiced led me to be a scientist, social worker, psychologist, friend and spiritual confident. Patient's allowed me into the most intimate corners of their lives, and we trusted one another.

I remember one patient who first came to me many many years ago. He was in his fifties, had a heart condition and a single request: to keep him alive long enough to see his grand daughter graduate high school. We worked together to make that happen, and he saw her graduate. That led to another request and another, and he lived to walke her down the isle.

This morning's paper says he was 92 when he died peacefully. It was my privilege to have been his doctor for part of that long life.

Paddle safe...
DS

4 comments:

Susan said...

Good on ya, Silbs - is nice when one can use ones knowledge/skills to help another human being. Although in looking at that slide, I can't help thinking back to my histology prof who (with a Scottish accent you could cut with a knife) would tell us to "stand back and look at it rhrough half-closed eyes..." before making any diagnosis. We should chat some time.

Silbs said...

I'd welcome that. In fact, I was thinking how nice it would be to have a winder rendezvous of the folks who usually blog and comment. Somewhere warmer than Wisconsin where we could camp and paddle and talk. Hm.........

Susan said...

Er - sorry Silbs - I'm north of you ;-)

Going to Belize? Lovely, lovely place - the hubby and I (plus a scattering of kayak buddies) spent an absolutely glorious week on Half Moon Cay almost a year ago, paddling and snorkelling our hearts out with Island Adventures (the lead guide turned out to be from 2 hours down the road from here - small world!). The beer is divine too, as is the rum.

Silbs said...

That should have read WINTER get together, and I thought every one would want to get away from the cold.