Indexing Title: OLEYSON’s Medical Anecdotal Report [04-8]

MAR Title:  Reaching Out!

Date of Medical Observation:  July, 2002

Narration:

Though three years had passed, it always brings a smile on my face whenever I remember this person who never stops thanking me every time we cross our path.  It was an unplanned initiative when I saw a sad face from a 45-year-old female with an anterior neck mass in SAMA SA MASA medical mission.  I asked her if she wanted to come with us in Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center for consultation. She refused my offer at first, and explained further that no one will take care of her kids but she then got my contact number and promised me to go to the hospital whenever possible for check up.

Surprisingly, one of my colleagues told me that a middle age woman is looking for me an hour ago when I went at the emergency room from operating room. I saw her on one corner of the emergency room, then I immediately approached her and thanked her for coming. I immediately referred this patient to my senior surgeon and we scheduled the patient for operation. Impression then was multiple colloid adenomatous goiter and we did a subtotal thyroidectomy.

After the operation, she said how very greatful she was with her decision to accept my offer under a mere strange meeting. After several days, she has been very vocal while thanking me at the same time because she can’t imagine the convenience she felt including the temporary financial freedom she enjoyed in the hospital since she belongs to one of the charity patient.   

From time to time, this patient continues to recognized my way of reaching out to her through the food and fruits she brought for the department and one thing that contributes significantly is, never had I saw her sad, no more.

Insights (Discovery, Stimulus, Reinforcement)

Discovery

People tend to practically notice some things stay as trivial to others, but in some areas this should not be the case.  To specify, never had I been a doctor, seeing the abovementioned patient would only affect me through few comments on her appearance.  Chances are, there is no way for me of helping her out. Fortunatey, with the practice I am enriching right now as a surgeon, I was able to show my sympathy towards a complete stranger by way of reaching out to her and her condition as well.

Coincidentally, I then again met an old woman with the same case when I bought from her  a newspaper one day. Now, I thought to myself  whenever  I smile I know that there is something more to offer.