This is a conversation I had with a patient who was in really bad medical condition, but it didn't keep her from brightening my day a little.
Patient: "What's your first name?"
Me: "Fizzy."
Patient: "Fizzy, I just want to tell you that I love your hair. It's so pretty."
Me: "Oh, thank you."
And after I was done with her exam, I asked if she had any questions:
Patient: "Are you married?"
Me: "Yes."
Patient: "Do you have children?"
Me: "Yes, I have a daughter."
Patient: "I can't believe it! You look like you're eighteen!"
Me: "Oh, thank you. (I think.)"
Patient: "When you get home, I want you to tell your husband...." [takes breath from ventilator]
Me: "Yes?"
Patient: "That he is the luckiest man in the world to be married to you."
Me: "Okay, will do."
I could probably say the same for her husband.
What a lovely story. One time I was equally inspired by very sick paralysed patient who always called me by my first name. On a frequent basis she commented about all the bullshit I had to go through at work. I was dumbstruck that in her condition she thought about my difficulties.
ReplyDeleteWhat, she didn't tell you how skinny you were??
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess she wasn't a rude bitch.
DeleteThis is a very sweet story.
ReplyDeletehow nice! :)
ReplyDeleteFizzy, you should post about awkward encounters with the elderly men who flirt with you in front of your attending (while you were a student/resident) +/- their wife. I'm sure it has happened, and you can tell it better than me.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, once I had a man who asked me out in front of my two surgery attendings while we did a post-op check for a rectal surgery!! AAaggh!! I must say that they enjoyed it very much though ;-)
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