We are all connected...

I want to share an interesting experience in connection, or connectedness, I should say. But not unusual for me. I had reached out to a patient to discuss the anesthesia ahead of time and to see if they had any questions. First time I called I got a voicemail. It was already dinner time. After I finished my own meal, I decided I will try one more time as it was still early. The patient was delighted I reached out. There wasn't much to share vis a vis their history as this person was healthy. Good thing! makes things easier for me, but by no means a problem when someone isn't healthy. It is what I do, make sure I get all the details so I can keep you safe. Nonetheless, it is one less thing to "think" about. I asked how the injury occurred and what I got was a long story about the "accident". It turned out it was an attack, by a patient of theirs. He/she was brutally attacked by someone unstable in a facility where this person worked. Pronoun is neutral to protect identity. Date of this anecdote is a while ago. This person began to tell me every detail of the incident, and twice they were injured. Once the first time, then they got away, and a second time, the assailant caught up with them and hurt them more, incurring multiple bodily injuries. To my astonishment, the person was not given easy access to medical care, and the right xrays weren't done the first time. This person went onto describe how they felt ignored, unheard, unseen and not validated, despite the pain and evidence of the events. This person then apologized for going on and on. I said, "No, do not worry, it is ok". You need to be heard, this is an awful experience". And as I listened, I felt my own heart open wide to his/ her pain and frustration of not being heard and assisted and their care being delayed. I was thinking, Oh my they must have PTSD. And then she said, " You know, I feel like have a PTSD from this ".

There was more we shared about their personal situation which I can't share here due to HIPPA, however, suffice it to say, I knew that I was assigned to her case for a reason. After I listened, he/she said they felt better already because they were just telling their family that they were terrified and didn't want to have surgery, but had to. They were upset their surgeon didn't have good bedside manner. They explained to me they already felt better, and all it took was ten minutes of listening. Often times prior to surgery, there isn't time like this to share. Staff don't have privacy and a rushed OR can make it almost impossible, even when one needs to get some things out.

I reassured her that not all surgeons can spend extra time to listen. I think as physicians we see so much illness, incapacitation, tragedy, and death that unless we become numb to it, we feel as if we will die, too if we listen with empathy and compassion. Ironically, it is this deep listening, even if only for a brief few minutes that protects us from the ravages of developing a cold heart. Our patients fears and worries are ours, if we are willing to admit it. Every one of them has a story to tell and a gift for our own awakening, if only we are brave enough to see the gifts we can offer, and then as a result, the gift we receive in return. We are all in this earth boat together and we all share pain, sorrow and tragedy. It is love and caring that bridge this divide, and reconnect us to our own True nature. It is such a blessing to know that others put their lives in our hands. Thus, to not listen deeply, to all the suffering our patients endure, is a lost gift. To recognize this blessing and have gratitude for it, each and every time another human reaches out to us for help, is a leap forward in our own journey to our True Essence and to the natural connectedness of all of humanity.

Together, we can help one another heal, in more than the physical . Never be afraid to say when you need and want to be heard. Some times your docs are just really busy, and by grabbing their hand or attention, they can see you, and then, you can see the real person they are, too.

Withe Grace and compassion, Dr Samson. Thanks for reading.