Gratefulness
Whatever is going on in your life, it is nothing. Your problems, they are menial. Drama and petty squabbles are all that your life amount to.
I am reminded of these things once every couple weeks or so. The things that remind me are patients. There are some patients that I see who have problems far beyond what I have in my life and what most of my close friends have in their lives. Two examples:
1. Last month: I had a patient who was born at 25 weeks (normal gestation is roughly 40 weeks). He had to be resuscitated at birth, was immediately intubated and placed on a ventilator. His birth weight: 650 grams (normal term is around 3 kilos or greater). He will undoubtedly have life long serious problems. The kind of problems that can be debilitating. So the fact that you don't like your apartment or your job means nothing. Your life is perfect compared to this kids'.
2. Monday: I saw a patient in the ER holding area in the morning. (The holding area is a place for prisoners. They are placed there for ER visits. There are guards, a locked door, and shackles.) Oh, by the way, the patient was a 15 year old. This kid was kind of sickly looking, had been in juvy for a year and a half, and had that ominous sign that something bad was happening. After seeing an undisclosed number of patients, you just know when someone has something seriously wrong with them. Anyways, this kid had been in "placement" for quite some time. What was wrong with him you ask? Oh, we diagnosed his leukemia. He's 15. What kind of leukemia? That has yet to be determined, but it could be some serious badness. You think your childhood was deprived? Your parents weren't perfect? No one's were. You didn't get all you wanted for Christmas? Well, this kid didn't want leukemia. He didn't ask for that for Christmas.
These kids are just two examples that I have personally seen that clearly illustrate that most of us have it great. Coping with these kids? It's tough. You have to distance yourself in some respects. But in others you have to care about these kids and make them your own in some respect.
I am reminded of these things once every couple weeks or so. The things that remind me are patients. There are some patients that I see who have problems far beyond what I have in my life and what most of my close friends have in their lives. Two examples:
1. Last month: I had a patient who was born at 25 weeks (normal gestation is roughly 40 weeks). He had to be resuscitated at birth, was immediately intubated and placed on a ventilator. His birth weight: 650 grams (normal term is around 3 kilos or greater). He will undoubtedly have life long serious problems. The kind of problems that can be debilitating. So the fact that you don't like your apartment or your job means nothing. Your life is perfect compared to this kids'.
2. Monday: I saw a patient in the ER holding area in the morning. (The holding area is a place for prisoners. They are placed there for ER visits. There are guards, a locked door, and shackles.) Oh, by the way, the patient was a 15 year old. This kid was kind of sickly looking, had been in juvy for a year and a half, and had that ominous sign that something bad was happening. After seeing an undisclosed number of patients, you just know when someone has something seriously wrong with them. Anyways, this kid had been in "placement" for quite some time. What was wrong with him you ask? Oh, we diagnosed his leukemia. He's 15. What kind of leukemia? That has yet to be determined, but it could be some serious badness. You think your childhood was deprived? Your parents weren't perfect? No one's were. You didn't get all you wanted for Christmas? Well, this kid didn't want leukemia. He didn't ask for that for Christmas.
These kids are just two examples that I have personally seen that clearly illustrate that most of us have it great. Coping with these kids? It's tough. You have to distance yourself in some respects. But in others you have to care about these kids and make them your own in some respect.
Labels: nightly ramblings
posted by runrMD08 at 7:07 PM
2 Comments:
Perspective is a funny thing. Regardless of all the problems in our own lives, we really do have so much to be grateful for. Thank you for that reminder... :)
it is nice to have a bad day, and then stop and actually compare your problems to others living in this world. i like to reflect in the shower: under hot running water, with my loofah and nice smelling soap...oh wait, most of the world doesn't have running water!
bang! my problems are gone.
it's been a good life.
true.
-DLMWS
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