HEALTHCARE BUILT ON A genuine CARE FOR OTHERS
As a hospital volunteer, I spent the last President’s Day admitting patients into surgery. There I met a 70-year-old with stiff person syndrome, “Marshall” and his rockstar family member, “Kay.” Whenever Marshall seized up, Kay would clinically produce a clear pink case filled with all the syringes, disinfectant, and gloves necessary to administer a cocktail of medications. Yet, regardless of the sacrifice it took to handle that constant responsibility, Kay would hold Marshall’s hand. She would lie her head on his shoulder. She would herald what he’s given to her. After only knowing her for an hour, she seemed to be one of the most powerful women I’d have ever met.
This made it quite an honor when Kay called me over to walk me through her system for tracking Marshall’s medications. Timetables and checklists ensured that her medication delivery skills were on par with any health professional’s. She was motivated by a desire to ensure I knew what to do if I ever had to care for a family member too. Unbeknownst to me, that day was less than a month away.
My father underwent spinal fusion surgery during my spring break this year. This was a major procedure. Not only did he reside in the hospital for ~5 days post-procedure, but he was sent home “high” on a myriad of medications. Due to his serious medical needs, the rest of the household (my mother, my sister, and I) assumed the responsibility of managing his oxycodone, ~11 other therapeutics, and mobility. Because I was between quarters at UCLA, it only made sense for me to be his primary support person until I left home. Now that I’m back at school, I reflect on the experience as exhausting but never negotiable. I cannot envision myself behaving any other way, and I bonded with my father on a deeper level through numerous personal conversations.
I hope that means I am becoming closer to the kind of woman that Kay is. I have emerged from my hospital experiences with a fundamental belief that healthcare should be built on an appreciation for how we instinctively care for each other. Applying that belief to my career necessitates idolizing family members like her. A physician certainly shouldn’t expect to be their patients’ family, but they should internalize that level of investment in order to become a rockstar. I invite everyone to join me in walking to that stage.