“Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion” – attributed to the Buddha by Larry Chang in the book Wisdom for the soul

AS a holistic physician, I frequently have long talks with my patients trying to understand the whole person. It is crucial that I listen to these people so that there can be good therapeutic alliance. This is essential for healing.

One of the roles of a physician is that of teacher — a role that I relish. When the doctor becomes the teacher, medicine the science is transformed into medicine the art. However, this is not a one-way street as physicians also learn from their patients.

As I reflect on my life I am thinking about the many lessons that I have learnt from my patients, friends and family.

PATIENCE

Some patients can ramble. To get from point A to point B, they first travel to points P, Q and then Z before arriving at B. This can be understandably frustrating as work needs to be done.

I have learnt to be patient with my patients because we all have a story to tell. We all want someone to listen to us. Sometimes that is all the medicine that a sick person needs.

FORGIVENESS

So many times I have heard stories of people being physically, verbally and emotionally abused by a family member. One of my patients told me that she had forgiven her abusive ex-husband.

“I have forgiven him. I wish him well, because he is the father of my amazing and wonderful children — my gifts from God. He has fulfilled his purpose in my life. If I did not forgive him, I would not have been able to love my children unconditionally.”

LOVE

This is demonstrated on a daily basis when we see patients accompanied by loved ones. These loved ones just want to be present to show their love, support and care. I have to accept that caring can be stressful. I will never forget the day I witnessed a woman drag her disabled husband from one end of the office to another — throwing him on the floor like a bag of manure and leaving him there saying: “I can’t bother anymore”.

HAPPINESS

Nothing puts a smile on my face like a little child bursting into my office unannounced, just to smile and greet me. I know that the greeting is for me as I do not give sweets to children.

Some adult patients make me happy. Just recently, a patient gave me a flower from a bouquet that she had received from her son. She also gave me lemongrass, mint and basil to plant in my garden and we had a nice long chat about gardening. At the end of the visit we were both laughing our heads off when I told her about the many ways in which I have attempted to kill the slugs in my garden.

EMBRACING MY HUMANNESS

I have learnt that it is fine to give an encouraging smile, to call a patient to enquire about his or her health or the health of a family member, to hug a patient. I have also learnt to be careful about the hugging. There was this one time when an elderly gentleman told me that the encouraging hug that I had given made him “think about his younger days”. Enough said!

PAIN

This can be transformational. There are different types of pain: physical, emotional and spiritual. Many people find their stronger and compassionate selves through the experience of pain.

When someone is experiencing much pain, they tend to have a wider view of the world instead of being insular.

Donna Brown, physiotherapist/energy practitioner states that patients with catastrophic illnesses who are undergoing physical therapy, frequently laugh at themselves when comparing their former to their current selves.

“Even though they achieve a new normal, they heal spiritually and emotionally,” she stated.

The truth is that laughter makes adversity bearable.

CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS

Catastrophic illness tends to clear away all the unnecessary polite sensibilities so that the patient has clarity regarding “what and who is good for me”.

As a patient who had been gravely ill and was in the recovery process recently told me: “I used to think that I knew God, but having gone through what I have, I realise that I am just knowing Him.”

COURAGE

I learnt this from my father while he was hospitalised as a result of quadruple bypass surgery and myriad complications. Pops just kept on enduring and persevering. He said that he survived the prolonged stay in intensive care by focusing on his return to his business activities.

MOTIVATION

While I was a medical student, I remember having a really bad day after an Anatomy examination. I began wondering if I would ever become a doctor. When I told mummy she said: “Look how many doctors there are in the world. They had to pass exams… Why do you think that you are any different? Stay calm, focus and do your work. You will succeed.”

So said, so done. I now tell that story to my students.

HEALING

Healing is acceptance. It is not necessarily curing. A person can be healed of a physical malady by dying. In many of these instances, the circumstances surrounding such a death is inspirational to those of us who are still learning.

“So, mummy, are you afraid to die?” I asked my mother as she lay on her deathbed.

“Well, no,” she softly replied. “I never died before.”

Good point, mummy. A few days later, she travelled on to her next adventure.

Over the years I have learnt many lessons from my patients, family and friends. Many times we are familiar with the lessons but the points and their significance need to be reinforced.

I have learnt to embrace truth, honesty, faith, love, and mercy. I have learnt to have peace of mind, strength and joy of spirit. I continue to learn.

Dr Jacqueline E Campbell is a family physician, university lecturer and pharmacologist. She is the author of the bookA patient’s guide to the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Email her at: drjcampbell14@yahoo.com

Dr Jacqueline E Campbell is a family physician, university lecturer and pharmacologist. She is the author of the book

A patient’s guide to the treatment of diabetes mellitus

. Email her at: drjcampbell14@yahoo.com