Indexing Title: BCDEVEZA’s Medical Anecdotal Report [ 05 – 3]

MAR Title: Showing One’s Gratitude

Date of Medical Observation: April 2005

 Narration :

It was another day in the hospital. I came from a duty that Saturday and it started  just like any other ordinary day. I, together with my seniors, made our rounds in the wards. I would say that each patient has his/her own story to tell and they would share this whenever we get the chance to talk to them.And to add to that, they would be forever

thankful that we spent some time talking to them. We had quite a number of patients so it took us some time before we finished.

I continued the day’s work. I went back to our patients and checked that our orders  were properly carried out. As I was about to enter the last room, I heard a voice calling, “Doktor, Doktor!” I wondered who it was. I could not recognize him from afar, but as he was approaching me, I knew who he was. He was the father of one of our patients, an 18- year- old male who underwent disarticulation of the 5th digit of the left foot. I asked, “Bakit po? Ano pong kailangan niyo?” He replied, “ Wala naman doktor. Gusto ko lang ibigay sa inyo ito. Alam niyo naman na walang wala kami. Pagpasensyahan niyo na po yan.” After which, we shook hands and he left. He gave me a piece of paper and I really  have no any idea what was written in it. When I opened and started to read it, somehow it uplifted me and made me smile. Let me share the contents of his letter :

I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND TO YOU OUR GRATITUDE TO ALL THE KINDNESS AND ASSISTANCE THAT YOU GAVE TO MY SON DURING HIS STAY IN THIS HOSPITAL. OUR GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO ALL THE DOCTORS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GUIDE YOU ALWAYS.

After reading the letter, I said to myself that it was not just an ordinary Saturday.

 

Insights (Physical, Psychosocial, Ethical) (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcements):

 

Every one of us has our own way of showing our gratitude to people who has, in one way or another, helped or assisted us. It can be expressed in different ways, depending on the person’s capacity. We know for a fact that majority of our patients come from the lower socioeconomic class. They don’t have enough resources to meet their medical needs. And as doctors, we are here to provide them with this need, in any possible way we can. I must admit that this is the first time  I received a letter from a patient. Simple as it can be, it has opened a lot of things for me and made me realize the worth of our profession.

Showing your gratitude is never difficult. It just has to come from the heart.