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:

Anonymous said...

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

D

Fiz said...

Jaw-dropping!

knitalot3 said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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

The Nice Lady said...

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.

Becky the Techie said...

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?

Hit 40 said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

ShrinkingDoc said...

WOW.

Kimbra Kasch said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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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