Remember this whenever you’re in a position to help someone…

 

 I have been fortunate to be able to give back to my fellow cancer fighters as they have been patients of mine. Some have been fellow chemo mates and some have been new friends made when they came to seek care for other issues. 

 I have completed evaluations and fought the tears, just to have my fellow cancer fighter choose hospice care, at age 41.

 I have gone on the long run with a patient who couldn’t keep their blood pressure up but ensured they kept mobile enough to on that family vacation in one month. 

I’ve instilled enough confidence in a fellow cancer fighter that she could stand, even if it was the last time, because weeks later she would find out, through my inquiry, that she had a broken hip from a pathologic fracture.

 I helped my fellow cancer fighter who had so many mouth sores she couldn’t eat and so much diarrhea she couldn’t keep nutrients from what she could eat, all to get poop on my shoe when I helped her stand, even if it was for the last time. I didn’t give a care in the world in that moment and was fortunate to help her to transition to hospice care within a week. 

 I can’t forget these and never will. The hardest part is that there’s many more where this comes from, and age doesn’t care.