JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE Volume 17, Number 5, 2014 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2014.9430
Understanding Timothy J. Voorhees, MD
W
e ask our patients, ‘‘What is your understanding?’’ We tell you about a disease. We tell you about physiology. We tell you about a treatment that may or may not work. You are in disbelief. Why is this happening to you? How will this affect your family? What is my understanding? There was a time that you were young, someone’s child, a prized possession, loved. You had a childhood. Years of laughing and learning. Playing for hours with friends. Maybe you played sports, maybe you were a musician, maybe you read books. Time passed quickly. You grew older. We understand. There was a time that you were an adolescent. You wanted independence. You developed a personality. Maybe you rebelled at times. You remember fights with your parents. You had your first love. You saved and bought your first car. You broke rules and tested boundaries. Yet, you matured. We understand. There was a time that you were a young adult—full of life and vibrant. Maybe you were the life of the party, but then you settled down. You traveled.you were in love. You got married—you remember the church, the reception, all of your
friends and family present. You had your first child, you were sleep deprived. We understand. You raised a family. Soccer practices, recitals, family vacations. There are times that you will never forget and times you wish you could. You had a job—maybe you loved it, maybe it was just enough to put food on the table. Years passed, the kids grew older. Maybe you have grandchildren. We understand. You lived life—what memories you must have. There was a time you got sick. We said it was terminal. Here you are now. Come into our arms. We will keep you safe. You are loved. We understand.
Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
623
Address correspondence to: Timothy J. Voorhees, MD Ohio State University College of Medicine 114 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 E-mail: [email protected]
Understanding Timothy J. Voorhees, MD
W
e ask our patients, ‘‘What is your understanding?’’ We tell you about a disease. We tell you about physiology. We tell you about a treatment that may or may not work. You are in disbelief. Why is this happening to you? How will this affect your family? What is my understanding? There was a time that you were young, someone’s child, a prized possession, loved. You had a childhood. Years of laughing and learning. Playing for hours with friends. Maybe you played sports, maybe you were a musician, maybe you read books. Time passed quickly. You grew older. We understand. There was a time that you were an adolescent. You wanted independence. You developed a personality. Maybe you rebelled at times. You remember fights with your parents. You had your first love. You saved and bought your first car. You broke rules and tested boundaries. Yet, you matured. We understand. There was a time that you were a young adult—full of life and vibrant. Maybe you were the life of the party, but then you settled down. You traveled.you were in love. You got married—you remember the church, the reception, all of your
friends and family present. You had your first child, you were sleep deprived. We understand. You raised a family. Soccer practices, recitals, family vacations. There are times that you will never forget and times you wish you could. You had a job—maybe you loved it, maybe it was just enough to put food on the table. Years passed, the kids grew older. Maybe you have grandchildren. We understand. You lived life—what memories you must have. There was a time you got sick. We said it was terminal. Here you are now. Come into our arms. We will keep you safe. You are loved. We understand.
Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
623
Address correspondence to: Timothy J. Voorhees, MD Ohio State University College of Medicine 114 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 E-mail: [email protected]
