Praying for Patients

I felt compelled to write an entry about my day today because it was quite unusual and emotional.  Let me start out by saying that I love my job.  I absolutely love "cleaning teeth" and everything that comes along with it.  That "everything" includes building relationships with my patients, recommending and following treatment plans (and seeing wonderful results), chatting about vacations, school, holidays and family.  Today that "everything" included praying for my patients, crying with them, and encouraging them.

I had one patient today that has been trying unsuccessfully to have a baby for years.  I have been seeing her for years and she has recently lost weight and looks fabulous!  From what I know about her, she is a wonderful, deserving woman who would be a fantastic mom.  I told her I will definitely be praying for her in her journey.

Later in the day, I saw another regular patient who has also been coming for years, along with her husband.  Her husband is in his early 60s and has advanced stages of Alzheimer.  Each time he comes to have his teeth cleaned, the deterioration of his condition is evident and it breaks my heart.  Today I learned from Mrs. Patient that she recently had to put her husband in a nursing home and that he is getting worse.  Professional boundaries disintegrated as I cried with and hugged her.  When they used to come in together, the love and patience she showed towards her husband was amazing.  My heart goes out to her, and I left her knowing that I would be praying for them.

Finally, I had a lady (first time I have treated her) who has come out of a 20 year remission from breast cancer.  She has finished with chemotherapy, will be having additional surgeries next week, and may be facing radiation.  She came in today with no hair and her head held high.  Her attitude and bravery amazed me.  She was optimistic and matter of fact and seemed to have a peace about her condition.  I admire her and will be praying for her too.

Please pray with me for my patients.  Their situations are weighing heavily on my heart tonight.  I know it is out of our hands but I pray mostly for faith, peace, healing and comfort.  I also pray that God continues to give me the opportunity to pray for my patients!  I am grateful for my blessings and my health and I feel like God has been working on my selfish, self-centered nature lately in ways like this.