In the past few weeks, my wife and I have spent time in the waiting rooms of a urologist, an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, an orthopedic specialist, an internist, a dermatologist, and tomorrow we consult with an orthopedic surgeon about my wife's upcoming surgery for hip replacement. Not to mention a dentist and an oral surgeon.
I'm not much good at trying to read in hospital and doctors' waiting rooms. My anxiety level keeps me from absorbing anything I read, anyway. So I watch people. Old and young, obese and slim, meticulously groomed and otherwise. Some with walkers, some with canes, some with oxygen, some assisted by obvious daughters, sons, and sisters and brothers. Some for whom every small step is an excruciating and unbearable pain. Some for whom every breath is a major exertion. Some with looks of despair. Others with blank looks of fear and hopelessness. Others with passive looks of endurance.
As my wife underwent a two hour cardiac stress test, which she passed, I watched a sister and a brother entertain their mother and try to keep her smiling and even laughing. After the mother and daughter spent considerable time in the testing area, the daughter came back into the waiting room and burst into tears and sat down, crying.
I thought, please dear Lord, let us take care of sick people. Let us try to help those in pain and misery find comfort and healing. Let us sort out the labyrinths of vested narrow and wrong-headed and stubborn views and spend our efforts helping people get well and reduce their pain and suffering. What valid excuse can exist for not taking care of sick people, for putting our own selfish interests first? No system will be perfect, all legislation has always been and will always be rife with holes and flaws. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't quickly pass legislation that will reduce the sleepless nights, the chronic pain, the fear, the financial ruin, and the despair of those without adequate health care. Why do we want those people on our consciences? I wonder some times if some of us even have a conscience. To help your understanding of sick and suffering and pain and fear and tears, please spend a couple of weeks in hospital and doctors' waiting rooms and then go vote.
