Baruch Hashem: When Medicine Meets the Soul
- Shari Samson
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
As physicians, we often focus on the body — symptoms, lab values, diagnoses. But sometimes, healing begins long before any medication is given or monitor is turned on.
Today, I was reminded of that truth during a simple pre-procedure evaluation that became something much deeper — a moment of divine connection.
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A Simple Exchange That Opened the Heart
I was completing a routine history and physical on an elderly woman in her seventies, preparing her for a minor outpatient procedure. As I finished, she looked at me and softly said, “Baruch Hashem” — Hebrew for Blessed be God.
I smiled and replied, “Baruch Hashem.”
Her eyes widened. “You speak Hebrew?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Fluently.”
In that moment, tears filled her eyes. She began to cry — not from fear of the procedure, but from something deeper. I paused, stayed by her side, and held her hand.
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When Presence Becomes Medicine
Through her tears she kept repeating, “God sent you to me.”
And I understood.
This wasn’t about her procedure. It was about being seen — about finding a familiar soul in a world that often feels divided and uncertain. Many of us, especially in the Jewish community, have been carrying a quiet ache these days — an ancestral fear and fatigue that stretches back generations.
I reminded her that she wasn’t alone. That being part of the Jewish people means carrying both light and resilience. That most people, regardless of faith, truly want peace. I encouraged her to take care of her emotional health, too — to step back from the constant noise of news and social media.
By the time we entered the procedure room, her shoulders had softened. The atmosphere felt lighter.
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“What’s a Catharsis?”
As the nurses placed monitors and I drew up her medication, she smiled and said aloud, “Wow, what a catharsis that was.”
One of the nurses asked, “What’s a catharsis?”
“It’s a release,” I replied. “A letting go of emotions that have been held inside for far too long.”
She nodded, still smiling. And in that moment, the medicine had already begun.
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Divine Appointments in Everyday Life
Over the past few days, I’ve witnessed several similar encounters — patients of different backgrounds sharing unexpected spiritual reflections or emotional breakthroughs.
And just days earlier, after a long overnight shift, I locked my keys in my car. Exhausted and frustrated, I silently prayed for help — and almost instantly, a security guard appeared. She quickly unlocked my door. As I thanked her, I noticed the small cross around her neck and said with a smile, “Thank you, Jesus.”
Two people, two faiths, one shared moment of grace.
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We Are All Connected
No matter what language we speak or which tradition we come from, there’s a universal current that runs through all of us — the desire to feel seen, loved, and connected.
Sometimes healing isn’t found in a prescription or a procedure, but in the simple act of being present.
Because when we choose love and gratitude, we become instruments of healing for one another.
About the Author
Dr. Shari Samson, MD is a board-certified anesthesiologist, Chopra-certified meditation instructor, and founder of True North Yoga, Meditation &Ayurvedic Wellness Retreats and GetIntoTheGap.com.
With over two decades of experience in medicine, Dr. Samson integrates science with mindfulness, Ayurveda, and yoga to help others find healing and purpose. Her work bridges the gap between modern healthcare and spiritual well-being — reminding us that presence, compassion, and connection are often the most powerful forms of medicine.
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