A Cardiac Patient that Melts My Heart

Every once in a blue moon, I meet a patient whom I will never forget. They are the patients who make me smile heart and soul for years.

If I remember one patient from this summer, it will be a farmer and his country charm. He was a rapid recovery and we extubated within 3 hours of landing him on the unit. In between dozing and looking around the room to learn about his surroundings, we chatted. I learned that he was the hard-working type: up at 4 a.m. to read his morning paper and eat breakfast before sunrise so he could get to work. He had awakened right on time, even after the anesthesia/sedatives from his procedure. He was a man of few words, but his few words spoke volumes about the kind of man he is. He is peaceful and simple--appreciative of life and the "simple things," grounded in what he believes, humble, patient, polite, and respectful to all. His humble confidence and contentment were striking. Such qualities are rare in this country nowadays.

Around midnight his temporary pacemaker wasn't capturing. His heart paused for nearly 30 seconds and the episode repeated itself until the charge RN and Natasha solved the problem with a booster box (a device that gives extra juice to "jump start" the heart). With an endearing twang, he complained, "I feel like an ol' cow came up 'n' kicked me in the chest."  He asked what had happened in the middle of the night, but he was still too sedated to understand. He had called himself "just a dumb farmboy who don't know nothin.'"

His easy country manner was already making an impression on me, but when this strong, reserved man in his mid-fifties looked me in the eye and called me, "ma'am," my heart melted. If I'm completely honest, my initial reaction was shock. Am I old enough to be a ma'am? His expressions were sincere and his gratitude deep for mine and Natasha's kindness. The man was a man of rare calibre--a balance of strength and tenderness--who stands head and shoulders above most. His honest humility and respect were more refreshing to me than a midsummer's night breeze under a starry sky. I earnestly hope to be something like him: a soul that brings refreshment and inspiration.