One for the doctors ...

[Cancer2x]

When first diagnosed, every time I went to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute I made it a point to enter through the children's floor. Seeing the little kids running around laughing and raising hell while dragging their IV poles alway put my own issues in perspective. And watching those Oncology doctors and nurses interact with the kids ... just amazing. Never knew how they were able to do it. I wrote this short verse for them.

DOCTORS

Doctoring is a science

And maybe even an art,

But it must be hard to shave away

Your emotions every day

Without sometimes nicking your heart.

[KJMinPhx]

Spot in. A meaningful prose worth sharing.

[GranPaSmurf]

As a young Medical Technologist still attending University of Houston I did a lot of work in the Sterile Invironment unit at MD Anderson.

These were adults and children with depleted immune system that were 'living in a bubble,' usually awaiting marrow transplant.

Over time, I observed that the nursing staff never referred to patients by their name. Always by room or bed number. "212 had a bad night," - "205a needs IV changed." Also, staff had a hard time looking the patients in the eye.

We lost a lot of patients; a lot of kids.

I surmised that I was seeing a defense mechanism at work.

That was 60 years ago and a different set of circumstances. Obviously different people.

I was heartened by your verse - recalling the contrast.

[Hidden]

My dr expressed the difficulty of that in the radiation department where I was. Easy for an adult but those little guys and girls have to be under anesthesia every time and it takes a special doctor in his opinion. Heart breaking. Including those of doctors.

[monte1111]

Great poem. Just seeing a little kid with a tooth ache can break your heart.

[j-o-h-n]

When I was getting radiated at MSKcc I would see those cute little kids with their bald heads wearing those surgical masks and it eats your heart out. That's when I said to myself "fuckit" I've lived a long life so don't feel sorry for myself and laugh till it ends. I can't imagine being around those kids every day and not losing my mind... If I'm ever down I also think about those young service men storming the Normandy beaches and getting mowed down. Their lives cut short and mine still going, so what do I have to complain about? Spell check? So when I hear adults pissing and moaning I want them to visualize those children getting treatment in a cancer hospital...so now piss and moan. Shit... I think I'm better at humor.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 06/20/2019 5:51 PM DST

[Hirsch in reply to j-o-h-n]

very well said John , as usual..