I am so getting used to this waking up before 7AM thing. Yet, this day is different in a way. I woke up with a sliver of light and no sound of raindrops – a first since I have been here. Another unhealthy breakfast of hotdogs later, I am off to admit my first patient of the day even before my morning bath (I did freshen up aggressively though!).
My much needed bath came before another day of OPD. Only six patients today so kinda light. Yet I did have 2 more in-patients today. Plus I also discharged one patient today. Yehey! The mark of a successful management is truly a discharged patient who is very much improved!
My realization of the day came during one consult with a patient from 2 towns away (which for those mathematically inclined is about 80kms away and 2.5h by rough road). He has a very simple condition which to me appears like gastritis. So I asked him why the need to travel this distance. He said it is actually the nearest location with an internist to deal with his problem. I was flabbergasted but humbled at the same time. I never felt this feeling in Manila before.
In Manila patients come to me from 2 hours away because they know the best doctors around are from PGH (their words not mine) and they want to be seen by the best. This makes me feel good because they think me better than others (I admit this is so self-serving but it was how I felt). Yet, here in this far place, the people go to me because they NEED me not because they WANT me. It made me humble myself in front of his praise. I felt unworthy of their adoration and challenged to give them the best I could muster. The best should be given to those who need it the most.
Towards the close of the day, I had to drain the hugest abscess known to Samar-kind (exaggeration all mine). It was challenging but it didn’t give me a high for my first procedure here. Hmmm. Signs of tiredness perhaps? I need a perk-me-up.
Well the perk-me-up came late in the afternoon. I went to their local mall here to apply for a globe line because the signal of Globe here is again way better than Smart. And by some weird circumstance, my hang-up with iPhone 4 ended. Why? Because I got one today! Here in Eastern Samar of all places! By some twist of blessing, I ended up with a brand new one on my palm today. Don’t wanna question it, I just thanked God!
So as this day draws to a close, I now realized that in humility comes a different perspective of life. In Manila, I think big because I am a doctor yet in the end I end up being a want. Here in the simplicity of things, I found myself a need and it is an amazing feeling. But the sad part it, despite my being a “tibak-hearted” person, I realize I am still a victim of commercialism.
One truly learns a lot about ones self if given just the time to look.
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