1/
#TodayICried, Day 2 of 7
Grady Wards, 2019
I was visiting with one of my patients in a room that held two patients. Another doctor was on the other side of the curtain making morning rounds on one of his patients, too.
Mmm hmmm.
#TodayICried, Day 2 of 7
Grady Wards, 2019
I was visiting with one of my patients in a room that held two patients. Another doctor was on the other side of the curtain making morning rounds on one of his patients, too.
Mmm hmmm.
2/
An exchange between a Grady elder and that other doctor was within earshot—and loud enough—for me to hear.
Him: "Did you have a good night?"
Her: "Mmmm hmmm."
Him: "How was breakfast? Were you able to keep it down?"
Her: “Mmmm hmmm.”
An exchange between a Grady elder and that other doctor was within earshot—and loud enough—for me to hear.
Him: "Did you have a good night?"
Her: "Mmmm hmmm."
Him: "How was breakfast? Were you able to keep it down?"
Her: “Mmmm hmmm.”
3/
Him: "And tell me . . . did you--"
Her: "Scuse me, doctor. But can you just go on and examine me and stop asking so many questions?"
Him: *chuckling* "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were asleep."
Him: "And tell me . . . did you--"
Her: "Scuse me, doctor. But can you just go on and examine me and stop asking so many questions?"
Him: *chuckling* "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were asleep."
4/
Her: "No. Your breath just stank really, really bad. So I want you not to be talking so much. Or like not real close by me like that."
Lawd.
My patient widened her eyes and pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh.
Whew.
Her: "No. Your breath just stank really, really bad. So I want you not to be talking so much. Or like not real close by me like that."
Lawd.
My patient widened her eyes and pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh.
Whew.
5/
Him: "I'm sorry. I guess the coffee I had this morning must have--"
Her: "Naawww. That ain't no coffee smell. That’s something that seem like you need a dentist or something. Like it's down in your gums or something. I don't know."
Down in his . . . gums?
💀💀💀
Him: "I'm sorry. I guess the coffee I had this morning must have--"
Her: "Naawww. That ain't no coffee smell. That’s something that seem like you need a dentist or something. Like it's down in your gums or something. I don't know."
Down in his . . . gums?
💀💀💀
6/
*silence*
Her: "You nice, doctor. But just don't talk a whole bunch if you ain't got to, hear?"
Hand over heart. No exaggeration.
They almost had to call the rapid response team for me and my patient on the other side of that curtain.
Lawd.
*silence*
Her: "You nice, doctor. But just don't talk a whole bunch if you ain't got to, hear?"
Hand over heart. No exaggeration.
They almost had to call the rapid response team for me and my patient on the other side of that curtain.
Lawd.
7/
After that, he left. And fortunately I never got to see the face of that halitotic doctor.
Wait. Is “halitotic” even a word?
Well. Even if it’s not, you get the picture.
After that, he left. And fortunately I never got to see the face of that halitotic doctor.
Wait. Is “halitotic” even a word?
Well. Even if it’s not, you get the picture.
8/
When the coast was finally clear, my patient and I came unglued.
We laughed and laughed and laughed.
Until we cried.
Hard.
Whew. I love this job. Oh, and don’t forget to see your dentist, okay?
😂😭
#gradyeldersFTW
#seeyourdentist
When the coast was finally clear, my patient and I came unglued.
We laughed and laughed and laughed.
Until we cried.
Hard.
Whew. I love this job. Oh, and don’t forget to see your dentist, okay?
😂😭
#gradyeldersFTW
#seeyourdentist
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
