HEALTH
PRESENCE
VS
PRESENTS
You likely have a favorite movie to commemorate the holiday season . My favorite is the 1947 film The Bishops Wife starring Cary Grant , Loretta Young , and David Nivens ( and if you look closely , there are other actors you may recognize from other famous movies of the time ). Like many of you , Christmas , Chanukah , and the month of December is a time of joy , happiness , and celebration . To borrow from the aforementioned movie , we celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees , lighting of the menorah , with the sound of bells , and with gifts . But especially with gifts . You give me a book ; I give you a tie . Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer , and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe . All the stockings may be full ; however , it is not always so for everyone . Although December is typically the most joy-filled time of year , if you have lived long enough , there may be times when life events mute the season ’ s bliss .
In 2014 , I was admitted to the hospital by way of a visit to the emergency room . I was struggling to breathe and felt “ off .” Doctors discovered that I was suffering from massive bilateral saddleback pulmonary embolisms . The embolisms were significant enough to create back pressure to my pulmonary artery and was systematically shutting down the ability of my heart to function . According to the treating physicians , nearly all patients in my scenario die before ever making it to the hospital . As physician after physician came to see the CT scan of ‘ the one who lived ’ ( It sounds a bit like Harry Potter , doesn ’ t it ?), the reality of my mortality hit home and created a severe emotional and anxiety laden state of mind . It was a tough time that year and difficult to find joy , hope , and the wherewithal for celebration .
The medical staff at the hospital were great , but the best medicine I received was the presence of those who came to visit . My first day in the hospital saw so many people from the Air Force coming to visit that the nurses joked about an invasion . The presence of family , friends , and co-workers did as much for my recovery as the medication for my condition . It was not anything they said or did other than they were merely present . Joseph Bayly authored the book A View from the Hearse after three of his seven children died at young ages from disease and tragedy . He describes a time when he was sitting , torn by grief . Someone came and talked to
DR . BRYAN C . SCHNEIDER President Advanced Dermatology
38 MOMENTUM