A Sacred Bond Between Doctor and Patient
I was at work doing an eye exam, where else would I be? And by the time my first patient’s eyes were fully dilated, mine were too–only for a different reason.
As I finished his exam, I told him what was unfolding, that we were apparently under attack and no one was quite sure where it was going to stop.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he replied, the blood draining ever so slightly from his face.
To this day, I will occasionally call up a patient’s records on the computer and there it will be in bold relief–9/11/01, 8:00AM. And during the course of the exam, he will always ask, “Do you remember where you were on 9/11?”
“Yes,” I will always reply, “right here with you.”
There exists a sacred bond between doctor and patient.
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mmlace
Wow. It was my freshman year of college, for me. I was walking through the student center on my way to my 8:30 class, when I saw my preacher (also a student…he was a young preacher!) and a few others gathering around a TV. I don’t recall that anyone said anything, I don’t think I even said “Hi” to him. We all just stood there, watching it all unfold.
May we never forget.
Mike the Eyeguy
President Reagan was shot my freshman year of college (I’m dating myself here). Same scenario–the student center, a crowd gathered around a single (back then, 27 inch) TV–silence.
Carolinagirl
ME – I remember that morning. I had only been stationed in D.C. for two months. I had locked myself out of my apartment that morning when I took the dog outside so he could do his business. I finally got back into my apartment and got into work. I was at Walter Reed then and a new “manager.” We were all in this heated discussion about scheduling, among other things. One of the nurses came into the break room and said she had to turn on the T.V. so we could see what was happening. Life was never to be the same after that. One of the first things I did was to call family in far away places to say that I was okay.
In weeks to come I was allowed to be part of the medical team down at the Pentagon which assisted those doing the dirty work. Yea, by dirty work I mean the soldiers (and civilians) clearing bodies and debris from the area. I didn’t have the opportunity to get my hands that dirty, but provided care for the overworked, but willing workers. I will never forget that experience. I will never forget what that section of the Pentegon looked like. It looked as if someone had sliced a wedding cake and one side of it just caved in.
Ironically, on 11 SEP 07, the packers came to pack-up my household goods to put into storage before I head down range.
Yea, I remember what I was doing on 11 SEP 01. I suppose I’m still trying to remember the why as it relates to my getting on a plane in a couple of weeks.
The city did a HAZMAT collection day this past weekend. As I drove thru the lane to drop stuff off, someone noticed my DOD sticker on my car and thanked me for my service. Maybe that’s how it relates.
Have a great day.
Mike the Eyeguy
cg–
It has indeed been a long, poorly-marked road from that day to the place where you are headed. We can all learn from your attention to duty and your service to a now muddled cause that appears nowhere near resolved. I thank you for your faithfulness and service in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
I hope you will find your way here even after you are “over there” and that we hear from you often. Godspeed and come home soon.
Carolinagirl
Thanks, ME. I’ve e-mailed a few blog sights to myself (strange, I know) so I’ll have the links accessible. Also, thanks for the running sight link. Much appreciated. I note a 5k this weekend not too far from as well as a 1/2 marathon.