The Lady With the Sad Eyes

Today I was adopted. A patient of mine, whom I referred to in my last post, had a lot to say this morning between her tears. She said "of all my doctors, you are the one I connected with, because you were there when I first learned ab-about the cancer. And you took the time to listen. And most of all, when I mention prayer and how G-d is going to help me through this, you are the only one who prays too. I can see it in your face. And you remind me of a son-in-law I lost. My family agrees too and you are welcome to speak with them and me as one of us. I'm going to call you 'mijo' because I think you are part of the family now."

That may be a bit odd. I'd probably have a better idea what I think about it if I had a clue what "mijo" means in Spanish.

But this is why I am glad I am here. This is the combination between science and the ministry that drew me to medicine. Here is where my talents lie, I think, in both comforting the dying, pointing the way to the lost, and discerning the way through the mental capacity granted me by the Creator who guides the entire process. I'm both excited and humbled by the opportunity.

And on the topic of pointing the way, it looks like the team may have figured out how to help Elvis. He's still hanging out with us, but he's improving little by little. Scarlett treats me like a son as well, fixing the collar on my white coat whenever I walk in with it a little crooked. Today she told me she "took a shinin'" to me right away, but immediately let me know she'd let me know what she thought of me, "straight out, even if you don't want to hear it, 'cause that's the way the good L-rd intended it."

Excellent.