Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Heard In My Office

My secretary Mary was chatting with a patient while she scheduled a follow-up appointment. I was around the corner, reading through some MRI reports.

Mary: "So, are you going anywhere this Summer?"

Mrs. Sympathy: "No. I'm stuck here, waiting for my mother to die. Today would be good."

And then she picked up her purse and left.

14 comments:

  1. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall to hear the story behind that remark? Damn.

    D

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  2. Whoa! At least she won't be beside herselves at the funeral.

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  3. And as she walked down the hall, she thought, "Dang! Did I just say that out loud?"

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  4. Sounds like someone needs some respite care. lol. It happens... Caregiver burnout.

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  5. you know, we can all be judgemental. but we dont know what the situation was behind that comment. having experienced being a long term carer, some days you are just at the end of your tether and u verbalise a short term feeling. and in most cases you dont expect it to be overheard, let alone publicized on a blog for all the world to see.

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  6. Really!! She was scheduling an appt! Not saying when she hoped mom would pass.

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  7. I stay at home because my dog is dying from CHF... but I don't resent it. I'm choosing to spend as many moments as possible with her while she's still comfortable.

    On the other hand I've not spoken to my mother in years. I doubt I'd do the same for her.

    I'm left wondering what the rest of this womans story is.

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  8. Personally I'm with Stitch. Last time I *had* to see my mother, my former mother-in-law accidentally caused the dog some paw damage (let her run too much on pavement). I was offered an emergency appointment that evening, or first thing in the morning the next day. Guess who had to wait 2 hrs. while I got the dog's antibiotics and prednisone?

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  9. Oh... I hope her mom passes quickly and with some good pain killers. I do not want a long drawn out death.

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  10. you can sure tell by the commemts here who has ben in that woman's shoes and who (luckily) hasn't!

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  11. I remember Louis Black saying he overheard strange conversations like, "If it wasn't for my horse, I wouldn't be in college."

    I knew that meant she had to sell her horse to pay for tuition. 'Cuz we've had horses. I hope this has a story - behind the comment that would explain such a horrible comment.

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  12. OK, maybe it is just the hospice nurse in me, but I get it, too. I've been the daughter (how can a 100 lb woman in a coma live 26 days without hydration?) as well as the nurse (P-26; R-4; BP 45/palp; temp 104.5.....how is she still alive, and how late am I gonna be to the kid's game?)

    Hard not to judge...unless you have BEEN there!

    Pattie, RN

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So wadda you think?