Written by Samuel A. Kojoglanian, MD, FACC, FSCAI Friday, 31 January 2014 14:47
It was 2 a.m. and my patient was sound asleep when he heard a cough coming from one of the bedrooms. He tried to tell himself it was just a bad dream, but the cough became louder. He stumbled out of bed and walked in the darkness only to find his 13-year-old son on the hallway floor gasping for air. Lights on. Peace gone. Horror dead-on. Terror has dawned. His son was turning blue and would not respond. “Son, wake up, son come back… am I losing you?”
The ambulance crew arrived. Oxygen was given. ER personnel were set in motion. He was diagnosed with possible croup, a viral infection that causes swelling of the throat, and epinephrine and steroids were given. Ten days later, the same seal-like cough was heard. Alarm, panic and dread intruded, hand in hand, to command disruption once again. Rush to the hospital. Same treatments. Same fears.
Since then my patient cannot go to sleep. Anxiety bursts within his heart. Will I hear the same cough? Will I be able to hear his cry? Will I be fast enough to get him to the hospital? Will my son live or will he die?
My patient’s heart rate and blood pressure have risen, and he is now experiencing chest pains. As I treated my patient I asked him how his life had changed. “I don’t work long hours anymore. Instead I work hard to stay with my family. They don’t need things. They need me.”
Do you know what the number one regret of those who are on their deathbed is? “I wish I’d not worked so hard.” Do you know what the number two regret is? “I wish I’d lived life true to myself and not what culture expected of me.”
People need you.
Things don’t love. You do.
Things don’t care. You do.
Things don’t share. You do.
Things don’t feel. You do.
Give your loved ones all of you. Valentine hearts, chocolate and roses are nice symbols of your love; but they are not love. Love is found in your presence, in your eyes and in your caring heart. This year, be there. This year, share your love. This year, and forevermore, give of yourself.