Inside the Clinic: The Gratitude Goes Both Ways Edition
Cada semana, nuestra directora ejecutiva, Anne-Lise Quinn, envía una actualización de la clínica al personal. Con el fin de mantener informada a toda la comunidad sobre lo que ocurre en Culmore Clinic, publicaremos cada semana en nuestro blog una versión comentada de esta actualización bajo la etiqueta Inside the Clinic.
My Dearest Community,
Over the last few days, I have been reading and rereading some email correspondence going on between you all and it has actually brought tears to my eyes. Here are just some highlights:
“Oh, my goodness, Culmore Clinic may be considered small, however, there are so many who have a valued part in all that we do. Thanks to everyone who helps fulfill the mission.”
“I want to echo your sentiments in your email regarding the interpreters - all of you are just incredible, without whom the clinic could not function as well, or as efficiently as it does. Thank you!”
“Thank you to our incredible Culmore Team! What an amazing group!”
“Thank you to everyone who contributes to Culmore Clinic. I am thankful to be part of such a caring team.”
“Happy Thanksgiving to all. I am thankful to work with such a wonderful group!”
I know this is a season for giving thanks, but reading these words of gratitude has filled my heart with such happiness. The respect and affection you have for each other is expressed, not just in these written sentiments, but most evidently in how you work together, the culture of compassionate care you create, and the incredible service you provide to our precious patients.
Patients feel it all the time; you can see it in their faces. You all are too humble to make a fuss over the gratitude patients show you, but I’ll share this anecdote from a nurse who wanted me to know why what she did for Culmore Clinic brought such fulfilment to her life:
“Last week on a call, one very satisfied and grateful patient told me we had no idea what kind of difference we made in his life. Since he was illiterate and had no idea how much medication he should be taking for his newly diagnosed diabetes, when I told him he was taking twice the amount he was supposed to take for two out of three of his meds, he sighed and said, “No wonder I was having so many side effects! “ His medical provider told him the amounts and times he should take his medicine, but he couldn’t remember. When you can’t write it down, it must be difficult to remember. It brought home to me how we need to go slow and ask over and over, do you have any questions…. I’m always so surprised when one of our patients tears up at the end of a call and pours out their heart felt gratitude. I get more blessings from giving than they do receiving, so the gratitude goes both ways.”
This last sentence really struck me. On occasions like Thanksgiving, we want to focus on happy thoughts and believe all is right in the world, even though the suffering of others is ever present. I realize though that Thanksgiving can be a time both for being thankful for the blessings in our own lives, and also for allowing that spirit of thankfulness to express itself as a blessing to others.
That’s what I see when I read those emails - incredible humans who recognize their blessings and embody a spirit of thankfulness in service to others.
And thanks to you, the small, but mighty Culmore Clinic has become a blessing in the lives of many who are suffering in our community; and for that I have no doubt that they will give thanks tomorrow - and beyond.
And I will, too.
Wishing you all a Thanksgiving full of peace and pie!
Cordialmente,
Anne-Lise