1/
#JoyintheTimeofCorona: A True, Feel Good Story
2 years ago at Grady
Him: "Hi Dr. Manning!"
Me: “Hey there!”
Him: "I know you don't remember me. But I just want you to know that I just matched and am about to graduate from med school!”
😬
He was right. I didn’t remember.
#JoyintheTimeofCorona: A True, Feel Good Story
2 years ago at Grady
Him: "Hi Dr. Manning!"
Me: “Hey there!”
Him: "I know you don't remember me. But I just want you to know that I just matched and am about to graduate from med school!”
😬
He was right. I didn’t remember.
2/
I sifted my brain for the connection. I was pretty sure he wasn’t an Emory student.
Hmmm.
His smile was so familiar. The more he beamed in my direction, the worse I felt about not being able to place how we’d met.
Shoot.
Finally, he jogged my memory.
I sifted my brain for the connection. I was pretty sure he wasn’t an Emory student.
Hmmm.
His smile was so familiar. The more he beamed in my direction, the worse I felt about not being able to place how we’d met.
Shoot.
Finally, he jogged my memory.
3/
Here’s the backstory:
About 5 years ago, I was making rounds at Grady one afternoon. This young man was working as a 1:1 patient safety sitter and, since his patient was fast asleep, he'd brought along books to study to make the most of his time.
Yup.
Here’s the backstory:
About 5 years ago, I was making rounds at Grady one afternoon. This young man was working as a 1:1 patient safety sitter and, since his patient was fast asleep, he'd brought along books to study to make the most of his time.
Yup.
4/
I was seeing the patient in the next bed over and couldn't help but notice how fervently he was scanning the text in front of him.
Me: "Hey! What you over there studying?"
Him: "Ma'am? Oh, studying for the MCAT.”
I liked his hustle and the tenacity in his eyes.
I was seeing the patient in the next bed over and couldn't help but notice how fervently he was scanning the text in front of him.
Me: "Hey! What you over there studying?"
Him: "Ma'am? Oh, studying for the MCAT.”
I liked his hustle and the tenacity in his eyes.
5/
So I told him just that. Then I extended my hand and introduced myself because I knew what it meant for him to be a black man sitting in that chair studying for a med school entry exam with a black doctor standing in front of him.
I really did.
So I told him just that. Then I extended my hand and introduced myself because I knew what it meant for him to be a black man sitting in that chair studying for a med school entry exam with a black doctor standing in front of him.
I really did.
6/
Him: “You probably don’t remember this either but you took my picture that day.”
Me: *nervous laughter* “I . . . did?”
Him: “Yep. You said I inspired you."
Wow.
Him: “You probably don’t remember this either but you took my picture that day.”
Me: *nervous laughter* “I . . . did?”
Him: “Yep. You said I inspired you."
Wow.
7/
Him: “You also said you could look back at it and say you knew me back when I was just a shorty studying for the MCAT at Grady.”
Me: “That REALLY sounds like me.”
*laughter*
He smiled that easy, open smile again. And just like that, it all clicked in place.
I remembered.
Him: “You also said you could look back at it and say you knew me back when I was just a shorty studying for the MCAT at Grady.”
Me: “That REALLY sounds like me.”
*laughter*
He smiled that easy, open smile again. And just like that, it all clicked in place.
I remembered.
8/
Me: “I remember now.”
Him: “You do?”
Me: “I do. Like, I can see the whole thing crystal clear. You had on blue scrubs and you were next to bed 1.”
*silence*
Him: “I know it was only a few moments to you. But to me it meant a lot.”
Me: “I remember now.”
Him: “You do?”
Me: “I do. Like, I can see the whole thing crystal clear. You had on blue scrubs and you were next to bed 1.”
*silence*
Him: “I know it was only a few moments to you. But to me it meant a lot.”
9/
Him: “I would always hope that a doctor would notice me studying and encourage me. Out of the 4 years I worked there, you were the only doctor who did.”
Now I wanted to cry.
Him: “I would always hope that a doctor would notice me studying and encourage me. Out of the 4 years I worked there, you were the only doctor who did.”
Now I wanted to cry.
10/
See, in 2013 I was still reeling from the sudden loss of my sister. Her death amplified my desire to be present in moments—especially with people. I wrote like crazy and took photos of everything I wished to remember.
Including him.
Yes, I remembered now. In high def.
See, in 2013 I was still reeling from the sudden loss of my sister. Her death amplified my desire to be present in moments—especially with people. I wrote like crazy and took photos of everything I wished to remember.
Including him.
Yes, I remembered now. In high def.
11/
I went back and found that 2013 photo.
And let’s be clear—this image shows that this gentleman had the drive it took to succeed long before he met me.
But.
What if this was the day he considered giving up?
What if this moment in time was, in fact, a pivot point?
I went back and found that 2013 photo.
And let’s be clear—this image shows that this gentleman had the drive it took to succeed long before he met me.
But.
What if this was the day he considered giving up?
What if this moment in time was, in fact, a pivot point?
12/
So. . . as you find yourself frustrated with disruptions in your life right now? Know that a world of possibility is still nestled into even the most seemingly insignificant things.
IF we pay attention.
There’s always impact we can have, man.
Don’t you love knowing that?
So. . . as you find yourself frustrated with disruptions in your life right now? Know that a world of possibility is still nestled into even the most seemingly insignificant things.
IF we pay attention.
There’s always impact we can have, man.
Don’t you love knowing that?
13/
For the longest, I though this was mostly about me encouraging him. But now I recognize that this full circle moment would encourage me . . .to keep pushing, keep seeing, keep trying.
Especially now when I'm feeling tired and uncertain about so much in the world, you know?
For the longest, I though this was mostly about me encouraging him. But now I recognize that this full circle moment would encourage me . . .to keep pushing, keep seeing, keep trying.
Especially now when I'm feeling tired and uncertain about so much in the world, you know?
14/
Oh, and just when you thought it couldn’t get better?
That same young man sitting in that bedside chair that day just got selected to be the 1ST EVER BLACK CHIEF RESIDENT in the HISTORY of his residency program.
Yup.
Stay intentional, y’all. Even in the time of COVID.👊🏾
Oh, and just when you thought it couldn’t get better?
That same young man sitting in that bedside chair that day just got selected to be the 1ST EVER BLACK CHIEF RESIDENT in the HISTORY of his residency program.
Yup.
Stay intentional, y’all. Even in the time of COVID.👊🏾
