Thread by @gradydoctor

1/
#WhatsYourWhy

You: "People say I'm a Grady miracle after I survived that accident."
Me: *listening*
You: "But I just tell 'em God had more for me to do, know what I'm saying?"
Me: *nodding* "Yeah. I think I do."

*silence*

You: "Shit, I need to be on a Grady billboard!"

2/
Me: "I know that's right!"
You: "Go on and holler at the billboard folk for me."

*laughter*

Me: "It is quite a survival story."
You: "Damn right! They just KNEW I was gon' die. But real talk, them trauma doctors at Grady? They ain't no joke!"
Me: "That's what's up."

3/
You: "I had a bunch of stuff after that accident. But they went hard for me. The doctors. The nurses. The therapists--all of 'em. I had a trach in my neck, a colostomy, and had to learn how to walk all over again."
Me: "Wow."
You: "A Grady miracle. I told you."

*listening*

4/
You: "Them folks didn't give up on me. They saved my life. And, if I'm real with you? I wasn't no good dude. Like, I woulda let me die."

*silence*

You: "I mean, not like kill me. But not go through all that stuff to save me. If you knew the shit I used to be up to? Whew."

5/
Me: "Dang."
You: *shaking head*
Me: "I'm glad they didn't listen to you."

You gave a slow blink and nodded. I could tell from your eyes that you were in a reflective place.

You: "A near-death experience change you."
Me: "Yeah. I believe that."

You let out a big sigh.

6/
You: "That's why I keep every appointment now. Like, I ain't missing nothing, feel me? After all Grady did for me? I be like, 'Where you want me to go? The MRI? The nutrition class? What? I'm there."

*laughter*

Me: "That's funny."
You: "I'm dead ass serious."
Me: *nods*

7/
Me: "So let me ask you--did you get a #COVIDVaccine?"
You: *raises eyebrows*
Me: *eyes widen* "What's that supposed to mean?"
You: *nervous chuckle* "Yeah, I'm cool on that shot." *shakes head* "Naaah."

I squinted my eyes.

Me: "Wow. Really?"
You: "Yeah. It's a no for me."

8/
Me: "So like, what kind of no? A hard hell no or a naah?"

*laughter*

Me: "I'm serious!"
You: "You funny."
Me: "Okay, but. . .like on a scale of 0 to 10--zero being a hard hell no and ten being 100% yes, where are you?"

You thought for a few beats.

You: "Like a . . .4."

9/
Me: "Word?"
You: "Word."
Me: *shrugs* "That's better than a zero. So. . . . do you mind me asking what's holding you back?"
You: *thinking* "It's not that I think some magnet is in it or anything like that. It's just. . .I don't know. Like something in my spirit, you know?"

10/
Me: "In your spirit like what?"
You: "Like. . .saying nah. Hold off. Or you gon' regret it."

*listening*

You: "I doubt it's anything you gon' say that I ain't already heard. You know everybody I see try to get me to take that shot."

*silence*

11/
You: "They told me about how it work, the new strain, and a bunch of other stuff. But, you know, when God lay something on your heart you got to be obedient."
Me: "You're talking about the feeling in your spirit?"
You: "Yeah, man. It's a strong feeling, too."

Hmmm.

12/
Me: "That's a hard thing to argue with."
You: "Yeah."

*silence*

Me: *pats chest* "What if I was part of the plan, though? Like what if me being in here talking to you today was bigger than just an appointment?"
You: *listening*
Me: *shrugs* "I'm just saying."

13/
Me: "I don't have anything new to tell you. But I did just think of something for you to think about."
You: "What's that?"
Me: "Okay like. . . . .so for every person filling hospital and ICU beds with #COVID? That's one less bed for somebody else."

You leaned forward.

14/
Me: "Like. . . let's say the hospital and the ER was at capacity with NO ICU beds from #COVID. Then the hospital goes on what they call diversion--meaning ambulances and helicopters can't come here."

You knitted your brow. Then you froze.

You: "Helicopters?"

15/
Me: "I mean, yeah. LIke, it's only so many nurses, doctors, and hospital beds, you know?"

*silence*

You: "Damn."
Me: "I'm really glad we wasn't on diversion from #COVID the night you got flown in."
You: *staring into hands nodding*

I could see your wheels turning.

16/
You: "Damn. I hate to think of somebody needing to come here like I did and it not being no space."
Me: "Me, too."

*silence*

You: "Damn, doc. You went for the jugular."
Me: "Nuh uh. I'm just being honest. Like. . .when you divide not enough by too much, somebody loses."

17/
You: "Somebody loses. Damn. Whether you want 'em to or not."
Me: "Yup."

*silence*

Me: "Listen, fam. You said it yourself. 'God got more for you to do.'"
You: "Yeah. But I just don't see me surviving all that only to go out from #COVID. Nah, folk."
Me: *sigh* "I guess."

18/
I prepared to stand.

Me: "Alright then. Will you think about it?"
You: "I ain't gon' even lie. You got me up to a 7."

*laughter*

Me: "I'll take it." *pause* "You know? One of the Grady elders once told me this: 'Man plans. And God laughs.'"
You: "Dang. That's deep."

19/
Me: "Listen--if you decide you're at a 9 or 10, all you have to do is pop downstairs, give 'em your name, and that's it."
You: "In the lobby?"
Me: "Yep. And I'll go with you if you want me to."

*silence*

You: "Yeah, not today. But that's good to know."
Me: "Cool."

20/
And that was it.

It's funny. I'd begun to feel pretty pessimistic and overwhelmed about the millions who've yet to be vaccinated. But something about this encounter with that Grady miracle gave me hope.

Guess God got more for me to do, too.

Yeah.

#BlackWhysMatter