August 6, 2009
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Another Medical Appointment for DAd
I accompanied my dad to his medical appointment today. He always worries about me taking time off from work for this. I keep assuring him that all is fine. As we sat in the waiting room, I notice one guy in a wheelchair. I've seen him before. Despite the summer weather, he had a hooded sweatshirt on and he didn't look well at all. It was the look of defeat. There was also another man in a wheelchair. I watched him as one on the volunteers wheel him up to the receptionists. His face is gaunt and the baseball cap probably covered his bald head. He has trouble with one leg which kept slipping out of the leg support. But his eyes still looked bright and optimistic. His smile was still there when he spoke to the receptionists.
These volunteer receptionists always seem to remain calm and cheerful. I often wonder how they do this all the time. I guess after awhile, you just have to remain polite and detached. I'm sure they know their role in this drama.
Most people in the waiting room have a serious and somber look. This isn't a happy place. Everyone is here for their blood tests. Some are visibly tense. Dad was his usual impatient self even though there were only 10 patients in front of us. Everyone smiles politely when their numbers are called into the room. Inside the room, there are about 10 work areas and the faint smell of alcohol hovers in the air. The conversation is minimal - name address and birthday. They move quickly and efficiently.
I've been here several times now with my dad and before that with my mom. It's like being in a play that never ends. The patients change but everything else remains the same. The waiting room is just one of the many settings for the daily drama between Hope and Despair. As we leave, I ask my dad if he is game for lunch. This has been our little ritual whenever I accompany him for tests. He cheerfully accepts as I knew he would. We exit stage left.
Comments (22)
So grim...are the leaves falling in Canada?
Speaking of face...(off topic here...)
I do notice Toronto people, especially Asians, tend to have kinder faces/expressions compared to NY and SF
People here in NY and SF look so stern and unhappy.
Is your Dad OK, Matt?
Very compassionate write up Mattie!! There is a prayer in the Holy Qura'an, which translates " My Lord, please have mercy on my parents, like they did for me when I was a child." It speaks of the love of children for their parents when in their old age, they become child like and the children take on the role of the parents. Matt, I am so impressed with your love and compassion you show your dad. God bless you with His grace always.
Hope all the results were normal.
I hope his tests come back clear Matt, what ever they're looking for.
I am blessed to be reading your thoughts, you always pull at the strings
of my heart... I appreciate that as it makes me take a new look into
the world around me.
Thank you, Happy Friday Mate,
*~matthew~*
Big hug ... it's tough to switch roles and play caretaker to a parent. I always feel uncomfortable when there's lots of patients in waiting rooms and some of them are obviously really ill while I'm not great but doing well by comparison. I work near a Sloan Kettering Medical Center which treats cancer patients and I feel sad every time I see patients outside waiting for their transportation.
Hope it was just a routine test for dad? The last time I was at the doctor's waiting room was when I had a flu, sure it was not a light-hearted ordeal! You're nice enough to take time off for this occasion. Now I'm worried about my parents in HK....who's going to do this kind of thing when the time comes? *scratching head, worried look*
Hope the test results were all normal.
This has a screenplay feel to it. Sad...but true. Hope all is well.
I hope his tests came back clear!
I was at the lab at the hospital yesterday. It was time for my blood test. I checked the people there waiting and you sound like you were in the same room!!!
i don't know how some people do the jobs they do; i see a very small subset of patients for testing, and most of them are very upbeat (otherwise they wouldn't be volunteering for studies). seeing them, though, is tough enough as it is even with them being cheerful! i don't know how i would be able to handle dealing with patients who are depressed or who have given up.
@Wangium - uhm... no, it's still summer.
@macphoto - so far so good - thanks for asking.
@ZSA_MD - that's a pretty good prayer. Thank you for the kind words. My brother and sister also do a lot although I don't write about their role a lot in my blog. But what we do seems to be so little compared to what he did for us. We'll find out the results next week.
@bleuzeus - thank you, I hope so too. Being in a hospital always jolts me back to reality.
@TheLatinObserver - I'm not sure how well I play this caretaker role but I share this with my brother and sister. We each have a very different perspective and reaction.
@curry69curry - it's part of a regular tests that he has to take. I remember you mentioning your concern about your parents some time ago. I wish I had a good answer. I can feel your anxiety. I don't know what social services or private services are available. I remember my uncle used to help his sister, brother in law and father in law) but now it's his turn to be helped. *hugs*
@Dezinerdreams - thanks, I hope so too.
@CareyGLY - thanks Carey.
@TheCheshireGrins - thanks Meg.
@Fatcat723 - I think it's the same in any hospital. We were there for less than 30 mins. We couldn't wait to get out.
@kunhuo42 - I guess you'll have to somehow develop a thick skin and just focus on the job at hand. But at the same time making sure the patient's dignity is also respected. I don't envy your role. Can you imagine say - someone who is an oncologist?
Yeah, the waiting room can be very surreal...
Hope your dad is doing fine.
Lunch with dad afterward is definitely the highlight of the whole scene eh? ^^
@ZenPaper - yeah, the dimsum was so so... not the best. But the time spent with him was comforting. Maybe we'll go for pho next time.
... and that's why I hate going to hospitals.
@kachino - I think it's rare to find someone who enjoys going to hospitals.
@ElusiveWords - Hypochondriacs?
Awww.... I want to get a HIV check very, very soon! I am always worried during the waiting period between I get tested and the time I get my results.
@mmmagination - that is always suspenseful. Don't wait too long for the test.
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