Life is a Journey
It seems to me that we skipped spring almost entirely this year. It feels like yesterday when I was writing my article for our Spring Newsletter!
In fairness, I admit that a lot happened during the fleeting moments of the spring season. There were the gut-wrenching moments when my wife was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Excellent care in a timely manner saved her life, and she is recovering amidst flowers, food, and numerous get-well cards from family and friends. She has lost function of the right eye, and the treatment of complete third nerve palsy, as her neurologist put it, is to “hurry up and wait”. All the advancement in science has been unable to offer anything to overcome the feeling of powerlessness when she looks at me with her only good eye right now.
Spring also brought new opportunities and responsibilities. I was elected to be Vice President for the Missouri Chapter of the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons. It is indeed a privilege to be part of this great organization diligently fighting to preserve the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship and the practice of private medicine since 1943.
My schedule during the spring months was replete with an inordinate number of patients with advanced stages of leg problems. Hence, we have dedicated this newsletter to address the complications of untreated varicose veins. One patient who deserves special recognition is Dona Russell. As I mentioned in our Spring Newsletter, this pleasant 93 years “young” woman came to us in a wheelchair accompanied by her two, caring daughters. Dona has lived with swelling, poorly healing ulcers, and excruciating pain in her legs for several years. However, when I asked about her expectations from us, her response was “Can you help me get out of this wheelchair?”. The love for life and desire to experience every moment of it even in face of debilitating pain and challenges is truly inspiring. I am happy to say that her legs are “like new”.
Finally, a patient whom I saw recently deserves mentioning as well. This pleasant woman has lived with severe pain and debilitating cramps in her legs for a very long time. Until the last few moments of her treatment with us, she cautiously but repetitively expressed her optimism of being able to live without the excruciating pain in her legs. She returned for a follow-up after her recent treatment and when I entered the examination room to see her, her first words were “You are God.” She can now enjoy both her legs and her life.
I have always embraced science more than religion. However, if there is indeed a God, He must feel very entertained by bestowing a feeling of sheer powerlessness in one instance and patient’s comment of being God Himself during another, all within a span of few hours.
Although spirituality is largely a matter of one’s beliefs, I believe that the words of Gary Allan deserve special credence:
Life isn’t always beautiful but it’s a beautiful ride.
Happy Summer everyone!
Sam Gupta, M.D.