Location, Location, Location

Some of you may remember this trip when I met a couple and reassured them about their son who would be coming to Houston for evaluation of a tumor about which I happened to know quite a bit. I was able to provide information about The Big Medical Center, The Very Big Cancer Hospital, and even The Big Department (where I worked) they would be visiting. I let them know that he would be in capable hands then we all went on our way and I enjoyed the rest of an extremely memorable vacation.

I was in the right place at the right time.

Yesterday I met Mr. and Mrs. Idaho. I was at a local Farmers' Market and they sat down next to me on a curb to take a breather and watch people - same as me. He was wearing a John Deere hat. My homesickness swelled. They asked me if I lived close. I told them I did and then I asked about them.

They are in the area so Mrs. Idaho can be treated for a cancer, specifically with radiation therapy - something I know a little about. Mrs. Idaho is a patient at the Very Big Cancer Hospital that used to be my Employer. I left there when the physical stress of operating hour-upon-hour each day got to be more than I wanted to handle. I now work for a different Very Big Hospital, a direct competitor.

So here's the deal.

I was able to give Mr. and Mrs. Idaho a little bit of reassurance that they were (indeed) in the right place getting the right treatment. I let them know that I was proud to work at the Very Big Cancer Hospital when I was there, that it employed some of the best doctors in the world. I lessened some of their hesitation about the doctors that were from places that weren't Idaho, Kansas, or Texas or anywhere else in the United States. I told them that I've worked with residents and fellows from all over the world and I'm comfortable with these brilliant minds who leave their families for a little while (or longer) to work at the Very Big Cancer Hospital.

I also told Mr. and Mrs. Idaho about some of the other things they can do in Houston area for free - besides the Farmers' Market in my neighborhood. I told them about The Menil and about free Thursdays at the Museum of Fine Arts.

I hope Mr. and Mrs. Idaho went to sleep in their hotel last night knowing that this Kansas transplant cares about them. I think they did. I hope tomorrow is just a little easier for them, with a little less stress and worry over things over which they have so little control.

Today I pulled my bright pink Physician Assistant T-shirt out of the closet and wore it to get coffee, then to a movie, and to dinner. I used to tell myself I didn't want to talk about medicine when I wasn't at work so I didn't want to "advertise" my profession. I'm starting to realize it's not about the medicine at all and I really need to stop worrying over things over which I have so little control. If I'm supposed to talk to someone, I'll know it.