We often forget the struggles that patients go through when faced with adversity. Within the last week two patients have reminded me just how much fight people have in them and the importance of taking care of not only the mind but also the soul.
One patient had a history of multiple treated cancers and multiple organ transplants, and he presented with symptoms consistent with metastatic disease to the vital organs. He and his family had clearly been through a lot during his illnesses, but when my colleagues and I spoke to them, I was somewhat surprised to see how well the family reacted. Although the prognosis was grim, they took the information found in the scans in stride. They acknowledged the severity of the illness, and the patient and his wife intertwined fingers and asked, “What do we do now? We can fight this. What’s the best way to do it?"
Every time I think about the "problems" in my life, I wonder about their true importance. The things I complain and worry about are so minuscule compared to the things people are fighting every day right in front of my eyes.
As a doctor, I’m on the giving side of the equation right now. I know that one day I'll have to go through serious health issues. I fear the day when I'm on the receiving end, when I cannot take care of my own health. It was heartwarming to see my patient's wife there; she held his hand the entire time. Her support was a powerful thing to see. I wonder if I'll be fortunate enough to intertwine my fingers with someone and have a health care team as good as the one that I am surrounded by every day.