Working in the internal medicine department is always fun. The cases are so intriguing, it is almost like solving a never-ending puzzle. The work there, is surely more exhilarating than watching the mysteries of C.S.I. Miami.
This woman, Elena, evoked in me a kind of empathy that I never even knew I had. I watched her as she fought for her dear life. Her legs were gruesomely swollen, her ribs were popping out of her chest and she could not move one half of her body (paraplegia). She was what doctors would describe a worst case scenario.
As I was reviewing some details on her in the patient folder with one of the nurses, a cute yet boyish doctor came into the ward and walked right towards Elena. Well, curiosity got the better part of me. I marched on to him like a freedom fighter ready to shot bullets right through the skulls of the oppressors.
‘’what's her diagnosis?’’, I asked.
‘’type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy’’
‘’okay’’
‘’so you know what diabetes is?’’
In a classic med school style, I went on firing upon him facts upon facts about diabetes. I actually looked like a guy ridiculously trying so hard to woo a girl. And you can imagine the girl going all so like I don’t like you, I like you. Gosh, enough of the jibber jabber!
If you ever seen a toddler licking his lollipop and playfully running his finger through a giraffe’s fur, then you surely came face to face with the element called joy. Joy is sculptured on his very being and even the air the swirls around him whispers joy. I was as joyous just like that toddler as I observe a femoral tap being done on Elena. It was probably because Dr. Cutie was doing the procedure, and more importantly because she was finally responding to treatment and we were doing our best.
Life has many phases; time has many shades, we can't always predict tomorrow. But we can make a concious effort to breathe, relax and enjoy every moment.
...still smiling in the dream world.
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