2008-11-26
I wanna grow old with u...
Because love is what life is...
It was during my latest surgery practical when I witnessed this event.
The grandpa is fully paralyzed...and his loyal wife make every effort to contribute to her beloved husband comforts
The husband, while paralyzed from upper mid-trunk, downwards, could even utter a single comprehensible word (to us, at least). The wife seemingly fully understood what he's trying to say.
Of course, at his age, he wasnt admitted due to the paralysis. That diagnosis was put ages ago. Now, he developed a severe limb ischaemia with gangrenic foot, describing the insufficiency to be at 4th stage...and yes, obviously he'd need surgery..
But the wife wouldnt allow it. Albeit his disease, his wife understood that at his fragile age and health, the chance to survive is severely lowered. Yes, we have the best surgeon here in the city, but no one can guarantee that his husband will come back from the induced coma.
Surgeons are quick to discharge them (i suppose they pretty relieved that the wife would go forward with the surgery, because if she does - and she have every right to do so-it will prove to be a very difficult surgery)
But I can see tears in the wife's eyes. I - a student - could do nothing more than helping up the grandpa to his wheelchair and cart him out of the exam room, while we wait for the ambulance to take them home.
The wife cried, quietly muttering something incomprehensible...but its no complaints...not a single word of complaint..instead, she tried her best in her own way to keep his husband feel warm in the cold basement we are waiting.
Then, slowly, before the ambulance cart them away, the old man raise his one good-hand, and turning towards me, made a cross in his chest...I couldnt know what he tried to say. But in the end, I guess he just appreciate the time I spent with him, that I treat him as a human being, instead of a sick-old-man.
So, fellow colleagues...lets not rush ourselves to grow up too fast. Cause I swear when we turn to HO or MO, we'll be as cold as most doctors i see here...instead, the luxury of lending sympathy is still ours..at least till now...so, use it wisely.
The above story is not a story of falling...of lives in the dark end of winter turmoil..
instead, its a love story..
where they doesnt live happily ever after...
but they live, with love to each other..
Posts
November 26, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Yes it's only during student life we can have the time to sympathize and empathize. Such a heartfelt story. From the looks of it you can be one of the medical bloggers in medscape.typepad.com. Bravo!
**Guess what? my authentication characters is 'c.a.n.c.r' .. how bizarre + ironic is that?
November 27, 2008 at 10:44 PM
what medscape what????
i really am sorry for this aging couple, and in some weird twisted way, I do wish they could "depart" together, so none of them have to feel the hurtful truth of being alone..
and c.a.n.c.r is scary...
November 28, 2008 at 6:58 AM
medscape - the medical blog ..
i wonder what situation i'll be during my old age (if i lived to that age).
yup.. time to open that holy book again ;)
December 2, 2008 at 2:58 PM
yea helmi...wish all of us could have such a partner in our lives..