While visiting one of my patients in the hospital we reflected together on how he has been able to fight off his metastatic cancer for over two years, much longer than anyone would have ever predicted given how sick he was at the time of relapse.
I told him how tough he was to put up with both cancer and chemotherapy for such a long time. He focused his gaze on me and said, "It was your doing, Doc. You kept me going now for two years."
I thought on this for a brief moment, remembering all the suffering he has been tormented with for such a long, weary time. A sense of shame came over me, and I replied as follows:
"I may be the pilot on this journey but you supply the fuel. The only reason this plane is still in the air is because of your work, not mine. As long as you have the energy to keep us flying, I'll do my best to guide you out of harm's way."
May all patients have the strength to keep their future aloft long enough to see another unfathomable dawn.
Comments
"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, `We are not worthy of praise. We are servants who have simply done our duty.' " Luke 17:7-10
Posted by: ashli | July 17, 2006 8:19 AM
Just a question, does it make a difference how sick you are at the time of relapse? Isn't stage IV stage IV? Anyway, I agree with your patient. It's your knowledge on how to guide him out of harms way that keeps the cancer from taking over.
Posted by: emmy | July 17, 2006 9:00 AM
Thanks. I'll take that. And strength to the guides who stick with us through it all.
Six years Stage IV BC
Posted by: Tracy | July 17, 2006 12:07 PM
This is a test comment.
Posted by: Tim Murtaugh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://scienceblogs.com/thecheerfuloncologist/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 18, 2006 1:29 PM
good answer!
Posted by: Lynne | July 24, 2006 9:44 PM