Rose

When I was a child, I almost never got sick. If I missed two days of school a year, that was a lot. When I was a toddler, I had many and constant ear infections, but tiny aural tubes took care of that, and I didn't have another until I was almost 35. I had a primary care physician, for school or work physicals and the like, but I only saw him once a year if that.

Unbeknowst to me or my physician, I had an underlying condition that would raise its ugly head when I was in my twenties, a Gremlin that would be fed after midnight somtime in my early thirties and wreak havoc on the rest of my life. This Gremlin, this disease, is an autoimmune disorder called Psoriatic Arthritis.

The Gremlin prior to its midnight feeding was "simply" psoraisis, patches of red, flaky skin that itch like poison oak on top of hives. But as far as I was concerned, it was just dry skin, an annoyance and nothing more. I went to a dermatologist, the first non-primary addition to my medical entourage, and used various topical treatments, which didn't help, and sun therapy, which helped some. Other than the patchy, ugly skin, I remained healthy.

Until my early thirties, when the monster turned violent. The patch skin was an outward symptom of a dreadful disease within. When psoraisis becomes psoriatic arthritis, the disease begins eating the joints. There is swelling and stiffness and immense pain, but what is happening inside is beyond ugly. My joints no longer look like yours, to see with your eyes or a digital x-ray, and they no longer function as God intended.

So I have a rheumatologist.

[I asked once what a rheumatologist studies, exactly. A cardiologist studies the cardiac muscle, the heart. A pulmonologist studies the lungs, the pulmonary system. A neurosurgeon performs surgery on the nervous system. But what is a "rheum"? As it turns out, that is not an easy question to answer. Google, which offers millions of answers to everything in 2.4 milliseconds, doesn't even offer a good response: rheumatology is the study of immunology and rheumatic diseases. Still doesn't answer the question!

I finally found a blog post from several years ago, written by a rheumatologist, Dr. John Hausman, that says, "Rheumatology is a weird field. Just look at the origin of the word 'rheumatology.' The prefix 'rheuma,' meaning 'to flow,' was first used by a Greek physician 2000 years ago, referring to the phlegm that flows from the nose when a person is ill. But rheumatology, as it is practiced today, has nothing to do with phlegm (talk about false advertising!)." Now adays, though, the field studies joints, muscles, bones, and inflamation in general.] end paranthetical sidebar

So I have a rheumatologist. I love my rheumatologist. I love his staff. They are helpful, kind, and dedicated to serving their patients.

People who become doctors, nurses, medical assistants, etc., are generally people who care about people. If you were to interview a hundred nurses/doctors, most would say they got into the profession to help people. They didn't get into it for the money or the acclaim, although for some doctors that may be a motivator. They want to make people well.

Nursing and medical assisting, I think, are two professions that get overlooked in the every day. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on, as I realized this winter when my health took a dive. There was a blip in my treatment: we changed meds but there was a hitch in the insurance. Rose, my rheum doc's medical assistant, was on top of it! I got a call from the insurance on a Friday evening saying the medication was denied. I spent the weekend in physical pain and emotional despair. I called and left a message for Rose on Monday morning, and on Tuesday when I left work I had a voicemail from the insurance company saying it was approved! She returns my calls promptly, answers my myriad questions, and always smiles when she sees me.

So I sent her an Edible Arrangements a few weeks ago. It was ostensibly for the whole staff, but I addressed the card to her. Just to say thank you. To let her know I appreciate all she does.

I write this not to receive kudos and applause for myself, but to ask you the question: who in your life could use a thank you? Who in your life works behind the scenes and yet makes you life easier? Perhaps a co-worker, a medical office, your cleaning lady or your dog walker. These people in our lives are often overlooked but no less deserving of recognition.

As we celebrate Challenge 2016, how can you Prioritize People? Recognize those behind the scenes and find a way to say thank you!