I looked at my computer screen to see who was coming in next:
96 years old, male
He walked in, standing tall & proud
Wearing a three piece, perfectly pressed suit
& a pure white turban
His eyes were tired with cataracts, but they still had a twinkle
1/7
96 years old, male
He walked in, standing tall & proud
Wearing a three piece, perfectly pressed suit
& a pure white turban
His eyes were tired with cataracts, but they still had a twinkle
1/7
He waited for me to offer a chair, before he sat down
He told me about his headaches & his dizziness & medications
& I assessed him & we planned what to do
“Where are you from, betta (daughter)?” he asked
We both had a connection in our roots
2/7
He told me about his headaches & his dizziness & medications
& I assessed him & we planned what to do
“Where are you from, betta (daughter)?” he asked
We both had a connection in our roots
2/7
& we started conversing in #Punjabi
Sometimes I would get muddled & mix in #Urdu words
& he would chuckle & say, “It’s ok, betta, you speak our language really well”
He had fled with his family during the partition of #India
& so had my grandparents, during that time
3/7
Sometimes I would get muddled & mix in #Urdu words
& he would chuckle & say, “It’s ok, betta, you speak our language really well”
He had fled with his family during the partition of #India
& so had my grandparents, during that time
3/7
“We were #refugees, betta” he said, as his eyes filled up with shiny tears
“We started from nothing, but He (and he pointed up towards the sky), He blessed us with everything”
He told me about the horrors & the blood shed
But then his face relaxed & smiled…
4/7
“We started from nothing, but He (and he pointed up towards the sky), He blessed us with everything”
He told me about the horrors & the blood shed
But then his face relaxed & smiled…
4/7
…as he told me about the helpers, those that shared food & water & blankets
“We are all God’s creatures” he said
“I am #Sikh, & you are #Muslim. You are still like my daughter. Why doesn’t the world understand, they (refugees) are just trying to keep their families safe?”
5/7
“We are all God’s creatures” he said
“I am #Sikh, & you are #Muslim. You are still like my daughter. Why doesn’t the world understand, they (refugees) are just trying to keep their families safe?”
5/7
We looked at each other & fell silent for a few seconds
He got up to go
“Give your Abba ji (grandad) my deepest regards” he said
“Abba ji passed away a few years ago” I replied
& he pointed to the sky
“You ask Him to give your Abba ji my regards” he said…
6/7
He got up to go
“Give your Abba ji (grandad) my deepest regards” he said
“Abba ji passed away a few years ago” I replied
& he pointed to the sky
“You ask Him to give your Abba ji my regards” he said…
6/7
…as he put his right hand over his heart
A sign of sincerity & respect, in our culture
As he left, he made me think
As humans, we have so much more in common than our differences
& it is these connections that remind us of our humanity & our duty to help others*
7/7
A sign of sincerity & respect, in our culture
As he left, he made me think
As humans, we have so much more in common than our differences
& it is these connections that remind us of our humanity & our duty to help others*
7/7
*as always, details have been changed to maintain confidentiality, whilst not taking away from the message of the story
#RefugeesWelcome #GP #NHS
#RefugeesWelcome #GP #NHS
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