A Note From Gary

Anyone entering the medical profession is frequently asked, “Why do you want to do this?” Most will tell you, “to help others”, which is true. The Emergency Room is a whole other world, and it takes a certain type of person to work in that world day in and day out.
I work in and Emergency room that is a Level 1 Trauma Center every other year, in Springfield, IL. We saw over 69,000 pt’s last year. I like it because it is fast paced and you keep busy every minute of the day, (and night). You see everything in the ER from minor things like stubbed toes, bruises and cuts, to shortness of breath, heart attacks, and any kind of accident imaginable—and a few you couldn’t imagine.
I’m not very comfortable with pediatric cases. What I really like are the heart attacks and any kind of trauma. If someone comes in with a heart attack, we can quickly stabilize that person and have them in the cath lab, usually in under an hour, often times much less. And in traumas, we can stabilize the pt and get them to surgery if that is needed, or to some other dept. or to the floors quickly to get the care they need to be healed. There is “instant gratification” in being part of a team such as this.
One day, a typical day in the ER, there were pt’s in the hallways, the usual mix—some with chest pain, short of breath, psych pt’s, broken bones and drunks. I was helping a pt in the hallway with shortness of breath when I was called to go to Trauma 2. When I arrived there, I was told there was a full arrest coming in. Within 2 minutes, the pt was there, everything was hooked up, and I relieved the paramedics doing CPR. As they were giving us report, they noted that they had just found out the pt had been down for nearly an hour. In medicine, an hour is an eternity. The doctor had me stop CPR to check the pt, and finally pronounced him dead. I began to help get the pt cleaned up and ready for the family to see him. I was then called away to help in the department again. I never did see the family of the pt who had died. It was just another typical day.
About 2 months later, I came to work one day and went into our break room. . I saw a note on our bulletin board, and recognized the name on the note. It was from the family of the man who had died that day. His wife wanted to thank us for being with her husband at the last moments of his life, and told us she knew we did all we could. I was moved to tears, and had to step into the bathroom for 5 minutes to compose myself. I was so moved that the family was so grateful, and I was glad to be a part of the great team that we are. I was truly humbled. I am not a very religious man, but I do have my beliefs, and that note touched my soul that morning.
After that, I stepped out into the dept. and saw my first patient of the day. I asked if there was anything I could do for him. He got within 6 inches of my face and yelled—“I need pain medicine—I have a toothache!” I smiled and told him I would check with the doctor and the nurse and see what they could do. Just your typical day in the ER.
When Dennis told me of his trip to Guatemala, where every person and every family are so grateful for everything you do for them, I knew I had to be a part of the next team. I needed another memory of someone who really appreciates what we do. Dennis was right! It was more than I ever imagined.
I think the best day of the trip for me was when we visited Mama Carmen’s. But remember, pediatrics is not my thing. Within minutes I was surrounded by 15-20 orphans. They spotted my stethoscope, and within minutes, they all wanted to listen to their own heartbeat. What they didn’t know was they really touched my heart. They were all so eager and loving. With what they had been through in their short lives, they were all so starved for attention…and they got a lot of it that day from everyone there.
So if anyone asks me, “Why do you do what you do?”-- that’s why.