11/24/18
In the last few weeks I have
resumed working in a rehab department inside a nursing home. I am reminded why I continue to be a
clinician. Here are two brief accounts of two patients I have been assigned to
treat. There are no names just initials and only an outline of each to protect
their patient privilege.
First there is the woman who had
a disfiguring oral facial cancer for the fifth time. She is amazing and much
loved by a very large family. Her business is in the food industry although she
can no longer eat, taste food, or talk because most of her tongue has been
removed. She is running her business successfully during her treatment. She helps
mentor others through her spiritual faith. She had her laptop on the tray table,
but she insisted on writing all communication with caregivers. She had a lot of
energy and a lot of pain. We walked the halls together. The three of us, the
physical therapist, myself and Ms. T. It was a slow mindful light- hearted
walk. She also used to be a dancer and it showed in her delight of movement
during the walk.
B. was a tough guy to handle at
first. When we entered the room, his gown was in disarray and tattoos covered
his upper body. I guessed he had been either in a gang or in prison. Maybe
both. He was argumentative and in pain with part of one lower extremity newly
amputated. He was verbally combative, so we just let him have is say and rant
and rave as we bore witness to his suffering and call for help. Eventually he relented and said he would show
up for therapy at eleven in the morning tomorrow. I checked back with him a
couple of times and the last time he called me over to his bedside and asked if
he could shake my hand. I said, “yes of course.” Then he asked if he could say
a prayer for me. He began, and it was so eloquent I was blown away. The argumentative,
aggressive, angry person was no longer there. Since then, when he is anxious,
we flow into a prayer that I ask him to initiate. It is quite moving to hear
him because he is so gifted.
