Word of the Day

And the Word of the Day is:  Patient
     Patient:  1.  Bearing pain or trials calmly without
complaint.
     2.  A person receiving or registered to receive
medical treatment.


Pulling up the word of the day and seeing "patient"
immediately made me think of my sweet mother who
endured so much throughout her life.  To me she
was the epitome of patience.

I thought about her example of being a medical
patient with heart problems and how patient she
was with all the procedures, doctor visits, hospital
stays, etc., even when things were painful and
uncomfortable.

One incident quickly came to mind of her patience
with the the hospital and then with me.

I had picked my mother up in my car and was
taking her to St. Mark's Hospital for open heart
surgery.  When we arrived at the hospital, at our
scheduled time by the way, we were told they did
not have a room ready for her.  We were asked to
sit in the waiting area and told it would be just a
short wait.

Well, we waited and waited and waited.  Soon it
had been almost an hour and thinking that we had
been forgotten, I went to the admitting desk to
see if her room was ready.  I could see mother was
tiring and I was concerned for her.  I was told it
wouldn't be much longer.

So, once again we waited and waited and waited
some more.  Sad to say I was getting rather
impatient and frustrated that mother had to sit
there when she really needed to lay down.  But,
through all of the waiting, she never once
complained and waited patiently to be admitted.

Again, I visited the admitting desk asking if they
knew  how  much longer the wait would be.
Guess I complained a little too much because the
doctor came out and said that if mother wasn't well
enough or strong enough to sit there perhaps she
should go home and reschedule the surgery.  I
stood my ground and said she was well enough,
but waiting over two hours for a room would be hard
on anyone waiting for admittance.  I also suggested
that it would have been good of the hospital to
call and ask us to come in at a later time when they
knew a room would not be available at the time we
were scheduled to arrive.

Don't know if my impatience paid off or if a room
finally became available, but shortly thereafter
mother was admitted and taken to her room. 
Through all of the hassle of getting her to the
hospital and admitted, she remained patient, calm
and composed.

Then when I went to bring her home after her
surgery several days later, I accidentally locked my
keys in the trunk of the car and had to call a lock
smith.  Once again she waited patiently while I
paced back and forth in frustration.

I learned patience from my mother during these
two experiences plus others I have observed as
she went about her daily activities.

When I became a cancer patient and had to have my
daughter drive me to appointments, when I had to
endure time in the waiting rooms of doctors, when
I had to endure painful procedures, etc., I
thought of my mother and her example of
patience and kindness to those who cared for her.
I have tried to follow her example of bearing
pain, trials, etc., calmly and without complaint.

Have I mastered this yet?  No.  But I am continually
striving to be more patient in all things and with
others.

Nola