It’s been one of those weeks…

Two patient deaths, a patient stabbed right outside of clinic, and the regularly scheduled patients still waiting to be seen. And it’s only Wednesday.

Today I spent some time talking to the daughter of one of the deceased patients who called from out of town. They had been estranged for some time so she had many questions, particularly about how he looked before he passed. Apparently his body had decomposed too much for her to see, so all she had was my general description. My heart was heavy after that call.

Talking to her reminded me that this patient was not just another homeless man, another name on my schedule, or another disease to treat. But he was someone’s father, someone’s son, someone’s friend.

It’s so easy to lose track of the person in the endless list of patients that need to be seen. I’m ashamed to admit that there have been days where I can’t remember a single patient name, but I can tell you their diagnoses and treatment plan.

It’s been a tough week. But it’s been a good reminder that each person has intrinsic worth. That was God’s design, making each person in His image. God help me to see and treat each patient that way.