Eight years after I was “bumped” (displaced due to downsizing in our regional healthcare system) from my job at the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s rehabilitation unit, I was back as a casual physiotherapist, filling in for a friend who was on vacation. My schedule was set for 8 days of coverage.I couldn’t believe it. There I was, in the social worker’s office, gathering with the rest of the team for a brief discharge planning meeting. The charge nurse, occupational therapist, and social worker were the same three faces that I left eight years ago! I was, once again, home at work.
After the pleasant and productive meeting, I glanced at the clock and saw that it was 9:00, two hours from working with my favourite patient, Mr. X. I provided physical therapy treatments for Mr X between 11:00 and 11:55 daily for eight days. The lunch trays arrived at 11:45 but he didn’t mind extending his physio sessions. I didn’t mind either, because every extra activity/exercise with him was time well spent.
What he accomplished during the time that we worked together was nothing short of astounding. When I began working with him, he required the assistance of three therapists to move from sitting to standing, as his weakness was profound and his endurance was very poor. By the end of my time there, he was able to stand up from a 24 inch height, with minimal assistance, and walk with the aid of a two-wheeled walker 150 feet to his room! He progressed from requiring a mechanical lift to transfer in the bathroom, to using a floor to ceiling pole to stand and pivot around. He co-operated with the skilled professionals 24/7 and every discipline had valuable input into his progress: nursing staff, occupational therapists, rehabilitation assistants, and the many physical therapists who guided him through his rehabilitation, and continue to do so.
He was one of the kindest, most motivated patients I’ve ever met. He worked tirelessly, through palpable fatigue to complete the exercises I asked of him and he never shied away from a new challenge.
In those eight days, he gave back to me as much as I offered him. He gave me the honour of being a part of his success. His goals became my goals and we worked hard to achieve them together. I felt extremely proud, as a physiotherapist , to be able to contribute to the recovery of such an extraordinary person.
To Mr X, I wish you continued success in your recovery and I thank you for all that you gave me in our brief time together. You have been my professional inspiration and, for that, I am truly grateful.....
Beautiful story! Good for you for doing what you do and seeing what you see!
ReplyDeleteEvery true vocation has a Mr. X, or a kid x or pet x. I truly believe that these amazing people with whom we are are blessed to assist, we too gain from.
This last year at school, I had a grade one student, kid x, who came in every morning for eight months at 9 am, to do "Jump Start" with me. He was a "behaviourally challenged" child. Every day, with me, he wrote a goal for his day, and then checked in three times every day to brief on how he was doing.
It only took about a month, when teacher and parent started to comment on noticeable behavioural changes for the better. He was feeling connected! He was feeling like he needed to contribute to his world. He knew he was there for a reason and he mattered!
To me, it does not matter from where these kids come, when they are in my care, they are mine. I love them and teach them like we hail from the same place. Oh, guess what. We do hail from the same place. We may not have the same experiences, but we all deserve chances to be something and do the best we can do.
Anyways, one day this kidlet was waiting patiently for me. I was on the phone. He sneaked by me, went into my drawer, got a pad of paper and a pen. I wondered what he was doing but I was too busy. He left quietly. Once I was finally off the phone, I looked at the note he left. It was written in grade one-ese, but the message was LARGE. It said, "I love you, Ms. T." I hung it on my bulletin board. My heart grew three sizes that day!!
Every true vocation has a Mr. X, or a kid x or pet x.