When practicing medicine,we may use our minds to seek out knowledge and hands to physically mend a broken body; but when one incorporates their own heart in their work, they can mend all; the body, the soul and the spirit!!
Dr. Nati Ben-Shalom, a neurosurgeon (and friend) must use his hands in the most delicate manners in order to save the lives of his patients. But equally as important, is how he chooses to invests his heart in his work as much as his hands!!! Sometimes when one uses their heart to treat others, their own heart can receive a touch of faith and inspiration as well. Here is how a 3 year old reciprocated the heartfelt touch of her surgeon with a lesson of her own about living life.
Written in Hebrew by: Nati Ben-Shalom MD
Translated to English by: Devorah Goldberg BS, RN
A sweet little being, only three and a half years old.
A few months ago she was diagnosed with a dreaded disease,which had claimed her little body to countless tests, treatments, needles, nightmares, pain, tears and crying. Most significantly her illness had claimed innocence.
I was lucky enough to meet her as I prepared her for surgery. It was a long and complex operation. Her procedure required an abdominal incision by the surgeons, as well as an even deeper incision all the way up to her spine, a technique that required the specific skills of the neuro surgery team; and that is where I came in to her picture.
Her procedure was performed under general anesthesia; which also encompassed a vast variety of risks; such as infection, bleeding, paralysis and even death.
Prior to the surgery I was impressed by this wonderful, little girl’s charming and touching demeanor. A being so young, but who spoke like veteran who had encountered and overcome numerous life experiences in her few years of existence. Her soothing voice lent out buoyant and optimistic sensation that seemed to disintegrate all those jittering nerves that filled the air around her, by those caring and praying for her to be fine and overcome this challenging procedure.
I will admit; I was scared. But it was her brave, confident and optimistic aura that gave me the confidence to succeed in my task in her procedure. Her strength and optimism carried a boundless strength that cannot be measured or verbally described, but it just impressed upon all those who encountered her presence.
One morning after the surgery I had to go in to sew one her drains back, once again, under general anesthesia.
In the waiting room we made a promise to each other. She promised to give me a hug when she woke up and I promised to allow her to paint my nails with nail polish; any color of her choosing.
I gathered my equipment for the procedure, and I drew up the conventional anesthetic called Propofol in its white liquid form.
As I approached this innocent and pure being with the Propofol, she cried out: “I don’t want this milk that will take my soul?”
I had a sudden lump in my throat as it hit me.
I suddenly realized that the beautiful pink world of this little girl, that had until recently consisted of going to the park, playing with friends in the afternoons, and nibbling on treats and watching fairytales on television, had been overtaken by the black world of fear, sickness, needles and by the terrible dread of death.
In a sane world, the concept of death should not comprise the emotions that paint the picture of a child’s world. A child should be granted a beautiful, bright world that screams life, color, happiness and optimism. Death, should not even be part of the conceptual world of a little child.
It hit me then that this delicate little being, so dense with the experience of life yet so young and empty still of what life had to give; was simply afraid for her life. She was crying in fear of her end.
Fortunately, victory was on her side and life overcame that threat of death that loomed over her during her procedure.
The operation was a success, and did not leave even a side effect.
This little soul will soon be reunited with a bright pink world that is owed any child. She will return to living a normal life. Hopefully this awful experience will be something of the past, a small, dark repairable blotch on the beautiful, bright world out there waiting to for her to live in.
Patients often recognize and send small tokens of appreciation for the care they received by their doctors and other medical staff. They often write a letters of appreciation to those who aided in granting them their life back. I write this letter in appreciation of this special little soul, the heroine of my story; the sweet innocent soul who has taught me what it means to have courage, how to be compassionate and more importantly I thank her for the important lesson she taught me about living life.
It is all about the colors you choose with which to paint the picture of life; and life is long if you know how to live it.”
She painted my life with a few sparks of color, and as promised, my nails too.
Besides, the nail polish, blue with glitter, came out perfect!
No comments:
Post a Comment