Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2007. Mattie was five years old! He was standing on top of our laundry in his mighty Mattie outfit! I will never forget doing laundry with Mattie in our complex. As for us, laundry is on a completely separate floor. It wasn't so much an issue when Mattie was a preschooler, but as a baby, there was a lot to juggle with a baby in tow. But as Mattie got older, he would either bicycle ride to the laundry room with me, or invent some other transportation! It was never boring! I remember shortly after Mattie died, I was truly stymied doing laundry. There was no Mattie in tow, and I had no little person's laundry to do. Now almost ten years later, when I do laundry, almost the exact opposite thing happens. Instead of instant loss and confusion that I felt in 2009, now I have to try very hard to recall the days when Mattie was my laundry side kick.
Quote of the day: Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by, knowing how to identify an advantage and seize it. But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion and empathy. ~ Dean Koontz
I had my six week follow up today regarding my kidney surgery. It is hard to believe this time has already lapsed by, because I remember having this kidney stone pain for about two months and the whole thing was debilitating. Including recovery! However, I absolutely love this doctor, so much so that after the surgery, I wrote a letter of commendation for him, my anesthesiologist, and surgery care center nurse. They were that notable!
The doctor asked that I have an xray taken today before my appointment. I allotted two hours to get this done. However, Mattie's hospital has an absolutely chaotic radiology department. Of which they don't allow scan appointments, but instead it is all on a walk-in basis. That is a bad decision right off the bat, and then add in incompetent staff working the registration process, and it is a recipe for disaster. Things were so tense today, that patients in the waiting area were arguing with each other and then they argued with the registration staff. The whole place is not well managed. After waiting an hour, I told them I needed the scan soon as I was scheduled to see my doctor at 10:30am. Thankfully a tech came to get and I made my doctor appointment in time.
However, while in the waiting area, a three year old boy sat next to me with his parents. A lovely family and the little boy was adorable. He spoke no English and I spoke no Spanish, but we communicated just fine. He was fascinated by my necklace and bracelet and literally my jewelry kept him busy for 15 minutes! When I have moments like this, it reminds me.... YES I was a mom, and Mattie gave me those skills.
After my doctor talked to me about next steps to monitor any more production of stones, he then said he wanted to thank me for writing such a beautiful letter to the hospital. The hospital gave him a "spirit" pin for my feedback. He went on to tell me how important he feels it is to listen to the patient and to be readily available for them. Which is why he gives out his cell phone number to patients. Unheard of no?? Any case, he told me he trains medical students about the art of listening to patients and he has spent his thirty year career dedicated to NOT JUST THE MEDICINE! Music to my ears, and I wish every doctor were like him! He knows they are not, but said he treats his patients in the same fashion he would want to be treated!
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