Ms. Watson would be proud. I am about to really connect with my
patient, on a spiritual level. Amongst all the beeping of monitors and
dings of heart rate changes, I sit. I remember the theory is about a real
soul connection and "love" for that person as a person, not just a
patient. So I sit close to the side of the bed. I take Susan's hand and I
say, "Susan, tell me how I can help you." Then I wait. She continues to
cry for about 15 seconds, then stops. She says, "I did it Daddy. I did it."
I sit and wait. She then tells me about how her father just died 2 weeks
ago. He was diagnosed with cancer on a Friday and died less than 14
days later at the age of 86. Susan says her daddy was her best friend.
She describes how he loved country music, how he enjoyed gardening,
singing at church and just being happy.
I sit and wait. She details how she avoided having her knee surgery
done because she didn't want to worry him with worrying about her
and she knew he would. She said she was a teacher for many years
and she put off the surgery so she could keep doing things with her
father. As he aged, she didn't want to miss a single day while recover-
ing. We talk for 10 minutes about her dad and I share with her the loss
of my best friend. She tells me she's glad she had the surgery, but miss-
es him so much.
It's our song
I ask her if she enjoys music and she says she does. I tell her I am
going to turn on the speaker in her bay so she can enjoy some music
while resting. She says she feels better and thanks me for listening. I
leave her momentarily to turn up the speaker in her bay. I turn the
Sirius radio onto a country station. I sit back down beside her stretch-
er and I tell her I'm happy to help her in any way I can. She thanks me
again.
My Turn
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