I saw one of my special cancer patients today early in the morning, to say hello and make sure everyone was on the same page. Each time I leave this patient's room, I feel a mixture of inspiration and hope, with sorrow and a sinking heart.
Sometimes you visit a patient and learn more things about them, things that in the great arithmetic of karma should keep them safe from the despair and sickness of grave disease. I wish I had more time an energy to describe my feelings in depth. I wish I had more time to sit with this patient and talk, to just take hours and help them feel better. What I do is maximize the use of my time.
I sometimes chat with patients as I do some parts of the exam, or intersperse clinical questions while we talk about their children, hobbies, or recent travel destinations.
Today I asked my patient what their favourite Bible passage was, because I know it is important to them and can help them think more about the things that comfort them. I told my patient I would keep them in my prayers.
Whenever you get the chance, say or do something special for your patient, because they spend hours a day alone, struggling with their disease physically and emotionally. It's always my goal to do or say something for my patient that makes a difference and makes them feel better. It's my goal everyday to say or do something they'll remember and comfort them.
I hope this patient sees many happy years, and that they fall into that small percentage of people that go into remission.
I'm not very religious, I don't think I am good at religion, to be honest. But with patients like this, there's a deep connection with something out there, be it real or imagined.
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