"Mine eyes have seen the coming. . . . ."

 50 years my senior: Imagine what these eyes have seen. . . .

Moments to savor (shared with patient's permission)

 "See folks look at you 
and all they see is the glory, doc.

But, see. . . 
they don't know yo' story."

~  real talk from a Grady elder

______________________________________________________________
Heard in the clinic at Grady yesterday:


Patient: "When I look at you, I see straight through to who came before you. I see every person who built you up and loved on you and made you who you are.  Not what's different about us."


Resident: "That's beautiful, sir."


Patient: "Know what else I see?" 

Resident: "What's that?"

Patient: "I see goodness.  That's what I see. Goodness." (starts crying) "And how faithful the Lord is."

I heard these words spoken by an octogenarian Grady elder to the young, earnest, resident physician serving as the primary care provider. They contrasted each other in every way--from age, to upbringing, to race--they were so different. Yet still. . . . .the connection they shared could not have been more authentic. I was fortunate enough to be supervising the encounter, and had the privilege to witness that exchange.  

Goodness, indeed.

Imagine working at a place where you get to hear and see things like that. . . . .sigh. This is what we see at Grady. More than all of the other things you might read about or hear about. This is what we see.

***

Today I'm reflecting on some of my favorite moments with the Grady elders.  Here are a few of my favorite posts including them. . . . . .they are probably some of the ones I reread the most. Hope you enjoy revisiting them, too. . . .or reading them for the first time if you are new to the neighborhood!

• The one where the Grady elder had seen me on television. No matter how many times I read this post, I always cry. At the same point, like clockwork. Guar-own-teed.
• The one where I didn't feel like going to work on a rainy day. Yet another reminder of what is so magical about working at a place with such a rich history.
• The one about "life support."  This reminds me of the importance of good communication.
• The one where the Grady elder taught me about perfect peace.   Faith personified.
• The one where the Grady elder didn't want a novice doctor.
• The one about the Grady mother and daddy in love.
• The one about "cold bubbles."
• The one about my favorite quotes from the Grady elders.
• The one about the Grady elder who didn't speak any English.
• The one when the Grady elder asked me for "some of them Viagras."
• and of course, the recent post about the Grady elder whose daughter taught him to read.

 Lessons learned:

1. Nobody keeps it real like the Grady elders.
2. Nobody praises the Lord like the Grady elders.
3. Nobody puts you in your place like the Grady elders.
4. Nobody makes you laugh like the Grady elders.
5. Nobody makes you cry like the Grady elders.
6. Nobody teaches you and makes you reflect like the Grady elders.

With thanks and gratitude to them all. . . . . .




Now playing on my mental iPod: