On a day where the majority of what you see is sad, terrible, or enraging (like September 11), a thread like this from Dr. Sayed A Tabatabai talking about treating his older patients (and educating a young doctor to be) was a welcome breath of fresh air.
Read the whole thing.
You’ll thank us.
The medical student shadowing me looks over my clinic schedule. She sighs exaggeratedly.
“Doctor T, your YOUNGEST patient today is 70. Don’t you get tired of only seeing older patients?”
I look down at my patient list, and smile.
I don’t see what she sees… 1/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
We suggest you get a tissue or FIVE now.
Trust us.
Keep reading.
At first glance, you might find Carl a bit intimidating.
Gruff and with a jaw that stubbornly juts out, as if DARING you to try him, he seems perpetually irritated.
But Carl runs a dance studio, and still dances every day.
At 70.
And when he smiles, the sun shines for him. 2/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
We love Carl.
Gladys shows me a photograph.
She seems proud, and I regard it carefully. It’s a black-and-white shot of a concert. A young singer has his back to the camera. The rest is a sea of screaming fans.
A young Gladys is in the front row, clearly visible.
The singer?
Elvis. 3/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
And we love Gladys too.
John and Lucy always come to their appointments together.
Sitting beside each other, they hold hands. Every. Single. Appointment.
I’m always moved by how quiet each one is when it’s the other one’s “turn” during the appointment.
They’ve been married for sixty years. 4/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
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And now we love John and Lucy too.
Anjali brings me food, without fail.
All sorts of delicious desserts that she cooks herself. I once tried to refuse (I’m trying to lose weight), but she looked like she would cry.
Her husband explains. Their son died in a car accident years ago.
She used to cook for him. 5/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
Annnd now is a good time for the tissue.
Howard can barely hear me.
Every single visit he apologizes for being almost deaf, and explains “I LOST MOST OF MY HEARING IN THE WAR!”
He has a photo in his wallet, of him in military uniform. I ask him how he won the medals he’s wearing.
He grins.
“I KEPT MY HEAD DOWN!” 6/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
Howard. We so adore Howard.
Alma has an amazing knack for gardening.
I look forward to her appointments so I can learn more about what’s in season in South Texas this time of year.
We discuss how therapeutic it is to watch a plant sprout.
Her secret?
“Love.”
Every living thing needs love to grow. 7/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
Everyone needs an Alma in their life.
Steve plays tennis almost every day.
He’s in his late 70s, and one day, finally, I have to suggest that he start toning it down. I’m worried about dehydration.
He says he understands. He’ll tone it down. He promises.
Then he starts walking his dogs for four miles a day. 8/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
Steve is AWESOME.
Mike is one of the kindest human beings I’ve ever met.
He brings my entire office staff a bouquet of red and white roses every single visit.
His smile is gentle, his eyes are kind.
He asks me how I’M doing at the start of every appointment, and really wants to know. 9/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
Did we mention we love Mike?
One day Mike doesn’t show for his appointment.
I know something’s wrong when his wife sends us a bouquet of red and white roses, and a note.
“Mike passed away in his sleep. It was peaceful. He loved you and your office staff very much. Thank you.”
My heart is broken. 10/
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
More tissue.
“Don’t you wanna see young patients? Isn’t it rough seeing old people, on so many meds with so many medical problems, all the time?”
I look up from my patient list, and my reverie, to respond.
“This… is a privilege.”
My student doesn’t seem to understand.
Someday, she will.
— Sayed A Tabatabai (@TheRealDoctorT) September 11, 2019
We’re not crying, YOU’RE crying.
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