Something strange happened to me today.
But I don't know whether strange is quite the right word... mysterious maybe?
I have a strong belief that everything happens for a reason - whether we understand this at that exact moment in time or not - and we can always gain wisdom from our experiences, good or bad.
After having finished a long day of lectures, I hopped off the bus and was trudging home, my mind whizzing here and there in the shelf of my thoughts. I was about a quarter of the way through my journey, but walked in a steady pace, overloaded with my black "Santa-Clauses sac" as I like to call it and a massive green folder, filled with notes a fifth year medic had lent me. I caught sight of a woman in the near distance, making her way around the large bend and looking some-what confused. I just assumed that she was lost and was going to ask me for directions when we were a little closer. That's where I was wrong.
I let my observation skills kick in - something that we were told to practice in my clinical skills session yesterday. The distance between the lady and I slackened pretty quickly. I can't seem to remember what she was wearing, firstly, because I didn't think it was important and secondly, because I was too overwhelmed by her poor appearance (to put it lightly). Can I just mention here that I have no intention of saying anything mean or rude about this lady, I am just describing the event - from my perspective - for you to get a better picture.
So where was I...? Oh-yeah, the lady asked me "Are you studying to be a doctor?"
I slowed down, now directly to her side (but still able to dodge passed if needed), "Yes", I murmured.
What is still a question on my already queried mind and on the tongues of those I told the story to, is how could the lady possibly know (or even guess) that I was studying Medicine? I mean, my baby face and petite frame screams that I must be at least 13 years old. I was wearing a shawl-ly-cardigan-thingy (on top of my navy blue Jilbab - a loose dress - and head scarf), that can pass me as 17 years max. But do I have a label on my forehead saying "future doctor"... well no... so it's weird right?
The stranger, who I'm guessing is in her late 50s, then said - this is where I paraphrase - "No one understands me. My mum has lost her mind... and my sister... they're all crazy!" (My instinct - the advisory elf sitting in my ear - was telling me to leg it! But of course, I ignored it as most people do and decided to see where this was headed.) As the lady was talking to me, I noticed that - poor thing - she obviously wasn't in a healthy state of mind, and as a result wasn't able to look after herself properly. She had food stains on her jumper and around her mouth. A few of her front teeth were missing or broken, black in those places, and her left eye bobbed about lazily in her socket. This also gave me a reason to run as quickly as my short little legs would take me, but I didn't want to make her upset or angry, so I kept a little distance and listened without saying a word. Oh, and I was also thinking, has this lady mistaken me for a GP because I am SO not legally allowed to give any medical advice (besides the fact that I have limited knowledge). She continued in a sort of whiny but strong and unbroken tone "I'm on the verge of committing suicide, (and she motioned her hand across her neck in a sharp wispy way, like that of a blade, as she said the last two words) because the doctors aren't taking proper care of them." I blanked out for a bit at that point. Oh-kay then, what's going on Samia? What do I do now, am I meant to tell someone, stop her from committing suicide? The elf in my ear was telling me that she didn't really mean what she said. But still, in that frame of mind is she really allowed to walk the streets by herself? 999? But this isn't an emergency... is it? (Well, it's obviously too late now since I'm sitting here writing this!)
She continued, "When we are little... in the early stages... they put us in an incubator... in my time any way, its a crime.... (she probably said something else which I can't recall at the moment)... stay away from the criminal doctors." This sounded like a closing sentence - a bit of stern and freaky advice. So I decided to leave it at that and as I carefully walked away I said (in the most polite voice any one has ever heard) "Thank you very much... I'll try not to be like that..."
Hmm... as soon as I turned around my brain was buzzing with reflection on what had just happened. My mind began to bring in a few puzzle pieces from earlier on today, my last lecture on ethics and the different types of duties of a Doctor (that are: moral, professional and legal).
Well, I don't know why the mysterious lady came up to me, what my reaction was meant to be and how much her heavy words (whether sane or not) affected me. But what I do know, is that it definitely made me think about the life I have chosen a head (if I live that long to make it), the responsibilities and duties I have as a medical student and in a few years as a Doctor, and most importantly, all the different patients I will meet who bring along with them the "back-pack" of ethics and morality.
Let me end here with a few juvenile words. I am open for any words of wisdom and/or advice on how I should have handled the situation. Also feel free to tell me any stories that you thought were particularly peculiar.
"Stay Good. Be Good. And do Good. "
