A Different Kind of Medicine

It was a great vacation.  Lots of beach time, pool activities, sunshine and family bonding.  And then there was the pesky little cough Izzy developed while we were in Palm Beach, Florida, last week.  It started out as nothing, really.  A few coughs after a long day of activity.  I blamed it on the damp, humid climate.

In my head, I concluded that the cough would go away once we returned home.  After all we were returning to a climate with five percent humidity versus 95 percent humidity.  With my vast medical knowledge, I was certain she would heal quickly because what else could a cough do, but dry out in such a dry climate?

Nope.

Yesterday we found ourselves at a local urgent care.  And surprisingly I can’t say enough good things about our experience.  I am so thankful for kind and caring people who love their jobs, especially during these uncertain times of healthcare reform.

“’Coughy McCougherson,’ come on back,” said the jovial medical tech who checked us in.

Izzy smiled (and of course coughed) as she was led back to the room where her vitals were checked.

The kind attendant addressed Izzy the entire time he typed her information into his computer.  It’s as if she were 20 and not 10.  She sat up a little straighter, and even smiled.  I could tell she felt grown up, and perhaps felt a little better in general.

“So, Izzy, have you quit smoking yet?” he said with a wink.

“Well I never have,” she said in all seriousness.

“That’s so good to hear.  Please never start.”

Izzy nodded in agreement.

“OK ‘Miss Coughy,’ step on the scale, but please remove all the led blocks from your pocket.”

“Oh, I just have this gum wrapper,” she showed the attendant.

“I think that will be fine,” he whispered.

Then it was onto the exam room.

We had a five-minute wait.  Not bad for a medical practice.

The doctor burst into the room.  Her beautiful smile lit the small, plain, sterile room.

“Oh Izzy, I heard you coughing from clear down the hall.  It made my stomach hurt.  All that work you’re doing to clear out the sickies.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel very good.”

“Well, we are going to fix that.”

And that they did.  Izzy is on the mend.

I’m not sure if it’s the oral medication that has done the trick, or if it was the kindness shown to us by an amazing staff of truly caring people.

I’ve heard it said that laughter is the best medicine, but I think in this case, it’s kindness.