I accompanied [[Catherine]] to an appointment with a physiotherapist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Friday.
As we walked from the waiting room down to her office, the physio turned, introduced herself to me, and asked me my name.
I told her.
And then I and thanked her for asking.
I’ve been to a lot of medical appointments with Catherine over the two and a half years since her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, and this was, if memory serves, the first time that a doctor, nurse or other professional treated me as anything other than “that guy sitting over in the corner.”
I’m only a bit player in this cancer drama, and I realize that health professionals’ most precious and delicate commodity is human connection; they must, of necessity, ration it out.
But it was awfully nice to feel included, and welcome in the room. I wish it happened more often.
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I am Peter Rukavina and this is my blog. I am a writer, letterpress printer, and a curious person.
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Peter
Peter
Following my wife's cancer surgery we waited in angony for the first follow up with Dr. Alex Gillis, her wonderful surgeon. It was at that appointment we would learn her diagnosis. That was 15 months ago. As we sat with Dr. Gillis he spoke with us, not to us. In the conversation he spoke with me as well as my wife.
He conveyed positive news and to this day I am grateful that he involved me in the conversation. Like you, I am a bit player in the drama and like you it felt good to be welcome in the conversation.
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