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1/
I’d never heard of that song before my intern said it. I’d told my team that my birthday was coming. On our long call day, to be exact.
“Your birthday? Oh man! I’ll have to sing you Las Mañanitas, Dr. M!”
Las Mañanitas? I sifted my brain for the song.
Nope. I had nada.
I’d never heard of that song before my intern said it. I’d told my team that my birthday was coming. On our long call day, to be exact.
“Your birthday? Oh man! I’ll have to sing you Las Mañanitas, Dr. M!”
Las Mañanitas? I sifted my brain for the song.
Nope. I had nada.
2/
Alfonso, my intern, was originally from Mexico City. He shared that “Las Mañanitas” is the classic song people sing or play on birthdays in Mexico. Then? He took out his phone, pulled up a YouTube and played it for us.
“This is Happy Birthday where I’m from,” he said.
Yup.
Alfonso, my intern, was originally from Mexico City. He shared that “Las Mañanitas” is the classic song people sing or play on birthdays in Mexico. Then? He took out his phone, pulled up a YouTube and played it for us.
“This is Happy Birthday where I’m from,” he said.
Yup.
3/
Alfonso kept his promise and sang (part of) Las Mañanitas on my birthday--1st thing on our morning long call rounds.
Sure did.
That was a while ago. But I always remembered that moment and stuck it on a mental post-it note in the back of my head.
Yup.
Alfonso kept his promise and sang (part of) Las Mañanitas on my birthday--1st thing on our morning long call rounds.
Sure did.
That was a while ago. But I always remembered that moment and stuck it on a mental post-it note in the back of my head.
Yup.
4/
~1 year ago, one of my inpatients had a birthday. She was super bummed to be reaching a milestone birthday while hospitalized. Through an interpreter, she told me that this was the big 5-0.
Le sigh.
She also told me that, like Alfonso, she was from Mexico City.
Sure was.
~1 year ago, one of my inpatients had a birthday. She was super bummed to be reaching a milestone birthday while hospitalized. Through an interpreter, she told me that this was the big 5-0.
Le sigh.
She also told me that, like Alfonso, she was from Mexico City.
Sure was.
5/
Okay, so you can see where this is going, right?
Of course, you can.
Anyways. That next day, on her birthday, I came to see her on rounds. After a short knock, I burst into the room.
Me: “Feliz Cumpleaños!”
Her: *grabbing her face in mock horror* “CINCUENTA!”
*laughter*
Okay, so you can see where this is going, right?
Of course, you can.
Anyways. That next day, on her birthday, I came to see her on rounds. After a short knock, I burst into the room.
Me: “Feliz Cumpleaños!”
Her: *grabbing her face in mock horror* “CINCUENTA!”
*laughter*
6/
Tied to her bed were two GIANT balloons—a 5 and a 0. Countless cards, too. She wasn’t alone. Family surrounded her. Though she'd been through a lot, the atmosphere was so festive.
Me: “Looks like they brought the party to YOU!”
Her: “They did!”
Familia: “We DID!”
*laughter*
Tied to her bed were two GIANT balloons—a 5 and a 0. Countless cards, too. She wasn’t alone. Family surrounded her. Though she'd been through a lot, the atmosphere was so festive.
Me: “Looks like they brought the party to YOU!”
Her: “They did!”
Familia: “We DID!”
*laughter*
7/
I was holding a balloon and a card, interpreter by my side.
Her: *gasping* “That’s for ME?”
Me: “Yes! It's your birthday!”
*smiling*
Her: “The others told me your birthday is soon, too.”
Me: “Yep. Tomorrow.”
Her: “Cincuenta?” *wink*
Me: *winking back* “48—close.”
I was holding a balloon and a card, interpreter by my side.
Her: *gasping* “That’s for ME?”
Me: “Yes! It's your birthday!”
*smiling*
Her: “The others told me your birthday is soon, too.”
Me: “Yep. Tomorrow.”
Her: “Cincuenta?” *wink*
Me: *winking back* “48—close.”
8/
After I examined her, we talked some more. Then I told her I had a surprise. Her eyebrows raised.
Her: "More?"
Me: "Yup.:
I reached into my white coat, pulled out my smartphone and pushed play. Out rang those first few notes of brass. And then the singing:
Las Mañanitas.
After I examined her, we talked some more. Then I told her I had a surprise. Her eyebrows raised.
Her: "More?"
Me: "Yup.:
I reached into my white coat, pulled out my smartphone and pushed play. Out rang those first few notes of brass. And then the singing:
Las Mañanitas.
9/
Immediately, her eyes welled up. Then she closed them and swayed. Some in the room sang. Others just smiled. It was beautiful.
Daughter: “I didn’t see that coming! Las Mañanitas?”
Everyone laughed.
But my patient was dabbing tears. “Makes me think of my dad,” she whispered.
Immediately, her eyes welled up. Then she closed them and swayed. Some in the room sang. Others just smiled. It was beautiful.
Daughter: “I didn’t see that coming! Las Mañanitas?”
Everyone laughed.
But my patient was dabbing tears. “Makes me think of my dad,” she whispered.
10/
All of it was awesome. It so was. And even better? She got discharged shortly after that. With some cincuenta to spare.
And this? THIS is a case for diversity, man.
Here’s why:
Had Emory not selected this young doctor from Mexico? We wouldn’t have worked together.
Nope.
All of it was awesome. It so was. And even better? She got discharged shortly after that. With some cincuenta to spare.
And this? THIS is a case for diversity, man.
Here’s why:
Had Emory not selected this young doctor from Mexico? We wouldn’t have worked together.
Nope.
11/
And if we hadn’t worked together? He wouldn’t have had the chance to share that song with me.
Nope.
And while I might’ve still bought a balloon (I’m mushy, ok?!) I'm pretty sure that me taking out my phone and playing Las Mañanitas would NOT have happened.
Uh no.
And if we hadn’t worked together? He wouldn’t have had the chance to share that song with me.
Nope.
And while I might’ve still bought a balloon (I’m mushy, ok?!) I'm pretty sure that me taking out my phone and playing Las Mañanitas would NOT have happened.
Uh no.
12/
At least not from me—her Compton born, Inglewood raised, African-American doctor. Maybe a little Stevie Wonder (which I grew up on) crooning "Happy Birthday to Ya!" perhaps. But Las Mañanitas? Not so much.
Because culturally, I'd never been exposed to that song.
Nope.
At least not from me—her Compton born, Inglewood raised, African-American doctor. Maybe a little Stevie Wonder (which I grew up on) crooning "Happy Birthday to Ya!" perhaps. But Las Mañanitas? Not so much.
Because culturally, I'd never been exposed to that song.
Nope.
13/
I’m so, so glad that Alfonso was my intern that month. He strengthened my cultural competence and therapeutic alliance with a patient 5 years later. His decision to sing Las Mañanitas to us that morning, brightened my day AND put me in the position to pay it forward.
Yup.
I’m so, so glad that Alfonso was my intern that month. He strengthened my cultural competence and therapeutic alliance with a patient 5 years later. His decision to sing Las Mañanitas to us that morning, brightened my day AND put me in the position to pay it forward.
Yup.
14/
But it gets better.
The day after she left, I got paged for “something important” on the ward. I tried to get an idea of what was going on by phone but the charge nurse insisted I come right away.
Here’s what was there:
Two balloons. A 4 and an 8.
And a card. . . .
But it gets better.
The day after she left, I got paged for “something important” on the ward. I tried to get an idea of what was going on by phone but the charge nurse insisted I come right away.
Here’s what was there:
Two balloons. A 4 and an 8.
And a card. . . .
15/
“Cuarenta y ocho!” The envelope read. Then, in careful cursive, it said in English:
“Happy 48 Birthday, Dr. Manning. I still owe you your Las Mañanitas.”
I dropped my head and cried right then and there.
On the ward.
In front of everyone.
Didn’t even fight it.
Nope.
“Cuarenta y ocho!” The envelope read. Then, in careful cursive, it said in English:
“Happy 48 Birthday, Dr. Manning. I still owe you your Las Mañanitas.”
I dropped my head and cried right then and there.
On the ward.
In front of everyone.
Didn’t even fight it.
Nope.
16/
Here’s what I know for sure:
Diversity gives us perspective. And perspective helps us see our patients better. And every human being wants to be seen.
But you know what else?
We're also human. It helps our patients see us, too.
Yeah.👊🏾
#iseeyou #youseemetoo #EmoryDEI
Here’s what I know for sure:
Diversity gives us perspective. And perspective helps us see our patients better. And every human being wants to be seen.
But you know what else?
We're also human. It helps our patients see us, too.
Yeah.👊🏾
#iseeyou #youseemetoo #EmoryDEI
