I was once again at work when I was struck with a observation that has motivatied me to write something down. Going through what I would call a rough patch, I was down on myself. Not having a good day at work (not uncommon), but this day was not rough simply because of the work load. I was dealing with some interpersonal conflict and would rather have been able to spend my time how I please rather than waiting on peoples every need. That was until I had a moment of down time. I looked at my patient list and decided to just go around and check in with the people under my care. I asked if they were comfortable and if they needed anything. After I took care of these matters I asked them how they were. I sat down next to them and wanted to listen to their story. So often we come and go out of these rooms that our patients are often left alone most of the day. Sadly, many are alone most of their stay... I enjoy hearing the stories of my patients, they come from so many different backgrounds and sometimes are like living novels to me.
My second patient I went to was the one that stopped my in my tracks. He was a stroke patient. He had lost movement of most of his body while his mind stayed intact. I had thought he was a needy and pitiful patient for most of the day. All day he had continually asked to use the phone to call family. People call family all the time, nothing out of the normal. When I went into talk with him, he again asked to use the phone. I had some time so I made the call for him. Since he could not use his arms well enough, I had to stand next to him and hold it to his ear. He had called his daughter. She did not live far away. The call started awkward and forced. He soon began to tear up as he asked if she could come see him. It's hard for someone who cannot move most of their body to hide tears no matter how hard they try. As I listened he began to offer money to her. Hundreds of dollars for her to make the hour or two trip to see him. I soon picked up that she was not coming no matter how much he offered. The call ended with desperate "hellos?". No one was on the other line. As he nodded to me that the call was finished he layed quitely. In another world in his mind. He asked to be alone; I obliged.
As I walked out my situation seemed much like a splinter to a severed arm. This man could not pay his own family to come see him. My situation was nothing. I could not imagine the thoughts he was having. The few times I've been in the hospital my room has been crowed with people. I suppose the moral of the story is sometimes your situation seems bad until the perspective is changed. I said a prayer for him as I left that day. No one came to see him... He left quietly to return to his nursing home bed a few days later.
