1/
Grady Hospital Wards
It was a Sunday. The students and interns had the day off so it was just the senior resident and me. This Grady elder was our last patient.
Yup.
Me: "What questions do you have for us?"
Her: "I don't have any questions. Y'all answered them. Thank you."
Grady Hospital Wards
It was a Sunday. The students and interns had the day off so it was just the senior resident and me. This Grady elder was our last patient.
Yup.
Me: "What questions do you have for us?"
Her: "I don't have any questions. Y'all answered them. Thank you."
2/
Me: "Okay. Is there anything else you need before we go?"
Her: "May I have one minute of your time?"
Us: *looking at each other*
Resident: "Sure. Tell us what you need."
She extended both of her hands out toward us, gesturing for each of us to take one of them.
We did.
Me: "Okay. Is there anything else you need before we go?"
Her: "May I have one minute of your time?"
Us: *looking at each other*
Resident: "Sure. Tell us what you need."
She extended both of her hands out toward us, gesturing for each of us to take one of them.
We did.
3/
She held our gaze and then spoke.
Her: "I'd like to pray for y’all. Is that okay?"
Shoot.
My breath hitched. I didn't want my resident to feel pressured or uncomfortable.
Shoot.
Had I been alone? This would’ve been a no brainer. But I was not.
Shoot.
Resident: “Okay.”
She held our gaze and then spoke.
Her: "I'd like to pray for y’all. Is that okay?"
Shoot.
My breath hitched. I didn't want my resident to feel pressured or uncomfortable.
Shoot.
Had I been alone? This would’ve been a no brainer. But I was not.
Shoot.
Resident: “Okay.”
4/
My eyes shot back over to my resident but she was looking at our patient. So I nodded in agreement.
Her: “Every head is bowed and every eye is closed. . .”
She then clasped our fingers inside of hers. Softly, deliberately she began to pray.
And pray she did.
My eyes shot back over to my resident but she was looking at our patient. So I nodded in agreement.
Her: “Every head is bowed and every eye is closed. . .”
She then clasped our fingers inside of hers. Softly, deliberately she began to pray.
And pray she did.
5/
She prayed over our careers, our families, asked for our protection, patience, wisdom, compassion and that we be empowered with the energy we need to keep going. She asked that we always, always recognize that we have been commissioned as healers.
She squeezed our hands.
She prayed over our careers, our families, asked for our protection, patience, wisdom, compassion and that we be empowered with the energy we need to keep going. She asked that we always, always recognize that we have been commissioned as healers.
She squeezed our hands.
6/
She repeated that last part louder and startled us.
Her: “Commissioned as healers!”
After saying amen, she pulled us both into a hug. It was so tender and genuine. It was like she had made up her mind to infuse us with as much love as she could possibly muster.
Yup.
She repeated that last part louder and startled us.
Her: “Commissioned as healers!”
After saying amen, she pulled us both into a hug. It was so tender and genuine. It was like she had made up her mind to infuse us with as much love as she could possibly muster.
Yup.
7/
Her: "Walk in your purpose, hear?”
We both nodded.
We thanked her and prepared to leave.
Her: “I love y’all.”
Resident: “We love you, too.”
And I nodded again because I agreed. Even though we’d only known her for two days.
Yup.
Her: "Walk in your purpose, hear?”
We both nodded.
We thanked her and prepared to leave.
Her: “I love y’all.”
Resident: “We love you, too.”
And I nodded again because I agreed. Even though we’d only known her for two days.
Yup.
8/
If you had any idea the things that this patient was battling, you'd fall to your knees crying. This elder was nearing the end of life.
Sigh.
I’d expected for something like an ice cold Coke. Or a pack of gum. Or even a coffee. But instead she wanted to give.
To give.
If you had any idea the things that this patient was battling, you'd fall to your knees crying. This elder was nearing the end of life.
Sigh.
I’d expected for something like an ice cold Coke. Or a pack of gum. Or even a coffee. But instead she wanted to give.
To give.
9/
The older I get, the more I recognize that a heartfelt gift often blesses the giver more than the recipient. I'm not sure where my resident stands when it comes to religion, but I love that she was gracious and welcoming of what our patient had to offer.
Yeah. That.
The older I get, the more I recognize that a heartfelt gift often blesses the giver more than the recipient. I'm not sure where my resident stands when it comes to religion, but I love that she was gracious and welcoming of what our patient had to offer.
Yeah. That.
10/
We finished rounding in time for me to scoot across town to join my family for church service. As I slid into the pew, all I could think of was this tender prayer spoken over us by a terminally ill patient who had every right to think of no one but herself.
Whew.
We finished rounding in time for me to scoot across town to join my family for church service. As I slid into the pew, all I could think of was this tender prayer spoken over us by a terminally ill patient who had every right to think of no one but herself.
Whew.
11/
I closed my eyes.
Lifted my hands.
And decided to return the favor.
Yeah.💛🙏🏽
#humanismalways
#grateful
#loveisthewhat
I closed my eyes.
Lifted my hands.
And decided to return the favor.
Yeah.💛🙏🏽
#humanismalways
#grateful
#loveisthewhat
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