Quiet Greatness Among Us

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

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Have you ever been waiting at a light, glanced through the window of the car next to you, and wondered what that person is thinking? Have you ever been standing in line at Starbuck’s and considered where the person in front of you is heading next? Have you ever been awkwardly sitting in traffic, afraid to glance up at the person standing on the corner with a sign, but still find yourself silently pondering her story?

Being in healthcare, I am thrust into a uniquely intimate relationship with people. This relationship is absent any true invitation on the patient's part. These individuals certainly do not invite into their lives the reason why I am there. Mine is a sacred profession. On a daily basis, I come face to face with my own fragile humanity. I treat individuals whose lives instantly change at the moment of an accident or the day when word of a diagnosis is given. All of the people I treat have amazing lives and intriguing stories. Within the chaos of any given day, we sometimes forget how really fascinating people are, and how blessed we are with the opportunity to be in communion with them.

A couple weeks back I was in the home of one of my patients living with the diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and into the room came a handsome gentleman in his 70’s. My patient introduced this man as his surrogate father and mentor, Jerry, who was visiting from Hawaii. This gentleman, who appeared younger than his years, had undergone knee replacement surgery and was continuing to have significant pain and decreased mobility. My patient and I had previously discussed a remarkable technique my husband, David, provides to help regenerate and strengthen both cartilage and the non-contractile white tissues a.k.a. ligaments and tendons. As Jerry asked for the basic information about prolotherapy and how he might access it in Hawaii, I remember being taken with his gentle demeanor. I asked Mr. Coffee a few questions, but it was obvious he did not wish to interrupt my patient’s treatment session or take up too much of my time.

As I packed up to leave the house, my patient told me a little more about Jerry Coffee. What he told me was enough to make it clear this was much more than a humble man in his seventies with bad knees... But aren’t we all. I did a little research when I returned home that evening. The quote below is taken from the front page of Jerry's website:

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“U.S. Navy (retired) Captain Gerald Coffee’s heroic story is legendary. While flying his RA-5C reconnaissance jet during a combat mission off the aircraft carrier USS Kittyhawk, he was shot down over North Vietnam. Immediately captured, he was then held prisoner for seven years in the notorious ‘Hanoi Hilton,’ where torture and solitary confinement were routine. For two and a half decades, his spellbinding keynote talk 'Beyond Survival' has inspired thousands worldwide with a life-changing message of hope, faith, courage, and honor.”

Captain Coffee’s tag line for his inspirational speech reads, “Reaffirming the invincibility of the human spirit.” This is a phrase not at all foreign to me, a phrase from my own lips. These are the exact words I use when describing what my patients with spinal cord injury, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and ALS have revealed to me over the years. I must admit though, my greatest teachers are the individuals I have come to know who are living through the diagnosis of ALS.

Beyond Survival Book
I know my patient sees his mentor and wing-man, Jerry, as a man who has overcome the insurmountable obstacles of being a prisoner of war.

I know Jerry sees his courageous younger friend, Mark, as a man who is overcoming the insurmountable obstacles of being a prisoner of ALS.

For me, I am grounded and humbled by the presence of these two great men living their lives in courage, faith, and grace. I feel enormously blessed to be in communion with the invincibility of the human spirit. Moving forward, I hope that I can in some way mirror their steel faith during times of fear, adversity, and self-doubt. In Captain Coffee's own words to change my prayer from, "Why me God?" to "Show me God."

Go forward this week in awareness, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

I know this to be true. My advice... Slow down so you don't miss the angels among you.

Your thoughts are always an inspiration to myself and others.
Michele
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