Last night one of Mike’s doctors visited me in my dream. I’m not clear what it was telling me but I was inspired to change the subject of my blog because of it.
A glass sculpture in the lobby of the heart hospital at KU Med Center. This is what a war zone looks like today.
Yesterday I read a post by a retired doctor about the health care workers during this pandemic. It said that they fight hard for every patient and mourn every patient they lose.
I’ve seen this firsthand with my dad as well as with my husband’s doctors. His local doctor called me and our youngest son after Mike died. A few of Mike’s doctors from KU Med Center reached out as well. He wasn’t at KU Med Center when he died and one of them sent condolences before I left Hays Med that day.
I know I’ve mentioned that I was told by a few people that I would miss the nurses and technicians who did my treatment. I however miss Mike’s doctors. We had been seeing some of them for four years. One was going to stop by and see my horses with his children on his way to Colorado, but he decided to fly instead. Some of them would stop to see us when he was in the hospital even if they weren’t working in the hospital that week. He really appreciated that and felt like the best doctors were chosen especially for him.
Sunset at the Touched By A Horse Campus in Elizabeth, CO.
Those doctors who formed connections with us were the ones I heard from and miss. They are also the ones I’m worried about now.
I was talking with a friend this morning about how forming bonds with the people in a doctor’s office helps with our health. The deeper the connection the better the outcome. The more comfortable the patient the more (s)he is likely to not hold things back that might be important to diagnosis or treatment. It takes time, commitment, and compassion to connect with patients this way.
When doctors connect with their patients it also opens them up to hurting when something goes wrong. They are human and second guess themselves like the rest of us. They may be beating themselves up.
You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
~ Marcus Aurelius
Right now, our health care workers are at war. They have the added stress of a pandemic. They live in fear of getting COVID-19 and/or bringing it home to their families? The must live in awareness of the risks and go on with their life as a health care worker.
How many of them will be burned out after this? How many marriages will collapse?
It’s hard enough to be at home during this time. Having someone take away your freedom. I can’t imagine how it must be to have a loved one who is out risking their life every day or being separated from them because they don’t want to bring the Coronavirus home to someone especially if there is someone vulnerable in their family.
I’m working towards creating a retreat center where health care workers and their families can come to heal. To mend relationships that this war has ripped. In the meantime, I am offering a virtual group for families of people on the front lines of the pandemic. Click here for more information.
I’m also happy to help anyone by setting up a free discovery call. Connect with me here.
Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. My mom played this Pete Seeger version when I was growing up. Here’s an acoustic version by Garth Brooks.
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