When a Patient Becomes a Teacher
The unexpected wisdom of a terminally ill patient
Mrs. Ramirez was not the type of patient you could easily forget. She was 52 years old and in the midst of late-stage cancer treatment, but she carried herself with grace and warmth that belied her situation. From the moment I walked into her room, she treated me as if I were more than just her nurse.
"Tell me, Nurse Wesley," she said one morning as I checked her vitals, "what was the highlight of your day?"
I blinked, caught off guard. Most patients ask about their medications or their prognosis, but not today. After a moment, I replied candidly, "Probably when I get to see a patient smile."
She beamed. "Then I will make sure you see my smile every time you come in here." And she did.
Mrs. Ramirez, on the other hand, did more than just smile; she also laughed, joked, and found ways to make everyone around her happy. When her husband came to visit, they would tell hilarious stories about their grandchildren. When the cafeteria served up the incorrect meal, she pretended it was a cooking show critique.
One afternoon, while assisting her in adjusting her pillows, I expressed my admiration for her upbeat attitude. "Oh, it is not that I never have bad days," she explained. "There is…
