Today I was pleasantly surprised to receive the following extremely moving letter which I have translated to English (and edited for clarity):
Dear Dr. QuietusLeo,
Although it has been a month since you anesthetized our son Y, better late than never.
We wish to express our great appreciation and gratitude for your professionalism in anesthetizing Y despite his suffering from a slight cold and some coughing. The anesthesiologist we met in the pre-op clinic expressed his concerns with proceeding with the operation on the appointed date and we understood that the anesthetic would be more challenging that that of a healthy child. (Note: With young children there is almost never a window of opportunity when they don't have a runny nose-Q.L.)
We wish to express our great appreciation and gratitude for your attitude toward us, the worried and frightened parents. The manner in which you addressed T when she was with Y in the recovery room - calmly, with confidence and empathy - provided us with the realization that our child was in excellent hands - not just professionally but also caring. The manner in which you spoke to me (the father-Q.L.) calmed me and conveyed confidence to the sweet child in my arms.
Immediately after Y was anesthetized by mask N (the father-Q.L.) exited the room, you asked hem to return to give the child a kiss. This seemingly trivial act, resulted in N feeling confident in leaving his son in the care of strangers.
With your permission, we would like to add - that when we were taken from the ward to the OR we were under great psychological pressure, even panicked - not because of the operation but because of the anesthesia. Had we met the doctor who would take responsibility for the anesthesia we would have been calmer.
Please convey our gratitude to the young doctor whose name we don't know (a young resident-Q.L.) who worked under you that day and also approached us with a smile and empathy (Done that and told the boss too!-Q.L.).
May there be more doctors like you,
The L. family.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I was only doing my job.
But the pat on the back is very, very, very appreciated.
5 comments:
hihi, nice job. i know u " only do your job" but i thing it fells well to receive such a letter. or?
Thanks Captain.
You're right, it does feel good to get such a letter.
I think doctors don't understand how powerless most people feel because they lack the knowledge and connections to find out whether assigned doctors are actually trustworthy. I think it's lovely they took the time to let you know, it surely is only the tip of the iceberg but must feel wonderful to feel appreciated for doing your job. Many do their job wrong, you know.
I'd let you anaesthesise me any time - and I bloody well hate that induction feeling plus the horrendous nausea afterwards (you'd expect anti-emetics to be used in such cases but oh, NOT.)
I always administer an anti-emetic as do most of my colleagues.
Bless you!
[Verif word: OPAINE. Honestly, how do you do it?] [Rhetorical question!]
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