Seeing My Doctors In A New Light

I was in San Francisco last week for a national allergy and asthma conference. As a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C), I want to be up to date on new research and ways to treat asthma.

Since I'm not a doctor, I felt a little out of place. But it was interesting to see things from their point of view.

One of the presenters was talking to the doctors about the things they face every day. Did you know that they are just like us?

They worry about their jobs and the people they work with day to day - us! They worry about us and wonder if they made the right diagnosis, did they miss anything, will their patient be okay, could they have done something more or different?

Then they go home at night for "pajama time" - where they spend an hour or two finishing up online paperwork.

Oh, and let's not forget that many of them are married and have kids. So they are doing the same things we are - dance recitals, baseball games, parent-teacher conference, scouts, etc.

This makes me see my doctors in a whole new light.

It sounds like they are under a lot of stress!

I love my doctors and send a Christmas card each year and thank them for the specific ways they take care of me and my family. This year, I think I'll write a card during Thanksgiving to let them know that I am thankful for them.

When my kids are sick and their asthma is flaring up, we would quickly head to the doctor. I am usually stressed out and scared because of how bad they get (12 hospitalizations for asthma).

Later, I would thank my doctors who were patient and calm and help me through some pretty scary times.

If you are thankful for your doctors, let them know!

What else are you thankful for? Are there other people in your life that need a card too?