Marco Deplano is a urologist working in Sardinia, Italy. He is a young doctor, but due to the nature of his profession, he has already encountered many things in his life. Some are good, some less so.
This is what he wrote in the post:
“Today I got a call for advise in another department. The usual thing.. it was about a patient with terminal cancer and kidney failure as a result of compression of the urethra. The woman I met was 70-80 years old, with orange carrot hair and bright pink nails.
– Good morning Miss.
– Good morning, Doctor.
I looked in her bag, did a test, and did an ultrasound.
– Mam, your kidneys are having a hard time: they can no longer urinate, so I’ll have to insert a tube, a kind of valve that bypasses the barrier. Then you can pee through two tubes connected to two bags.
(She has already had a colostomy.)
– Yes Maam.
There was a long silence. Felt endless. But then at the end, she looked at me and smiled.
– Sorry, what did you say your name was?
– Deplano.
– No. Your name.
– Marco.
– Of course ma’am.
– You know, I’m already dead. Do you understand?
– Sorry.. No, I do not understand.
– I died 15 years ago. When my 33-year-old son died of a heart attack. I also died that day.
– I’m so sorry.
– I died then, with him. Then I died again 10 years ago when my disease was diagnosed. But now I no longer have to pretend..
.. I have my self-respect. Will you get hurt if I won’t want to do anything? I’m tired. I am willing to entrust myself to the hands of God. Tell me the truth, will I suffer?
– No my lady. You can do whatever you want. But put two bags ..
– Marco, I said no. this is my life. I decided. If you want to do something, let’s stop the infusion. Then I can go home have ice cream with my grandson..
Every word she said obscured my defenses, as if tearing petals from a flower. I forgot about my exhaustion, my anger and frustration, everything. I forgot the years of schooling, the thousands of pages I read, the rules, the facts. I felt naked and softened as I faced this sincerity, this awareness of death.
I turned my back to write in her file so that the nurse would not see the tears in my eyes. I was so moved. Anyone who knows me knows that I do not get moved like that so easily..
– Marco, did that move you?
– Yes, a little, I’m sorry ma’am.
– No, that’s nice. Thank you. It makes me feel important. Listen, please do me another favor. If my kids come and yell at you, call me. I’ll tell them to stop. Write that I’m fine, okay?
– Yes Madam.
– Marco, can I ask you another thing?
– Sure!
– You are special. I know you will go far. Give me a kiss, like you would if you were my son – do you mind?
– of course not.
– I’ll pray for you. And for my son. I hope to see you again.
– Me too. Thank you ma’am.
She gave me the best lesson for life, with those simple words. Death is the last part of life. There is no need to fear, be afraid, or be selfish. Things that years of schooling will not teach you. I felt so small there, in the face of this power.
Suffering is part of love, it unites people sometimes more than love itself. And sometimes a good word is a stronger drug than any modern drug. No matter what you think, you will appreciate and cherish the journey”.
Please share this important story with the people you love. Together, let’s remind people what’s really important in life.
