Physicals and Good Samaritans 

Anna had her yearly physical today.  We have moved to the adult side of the practice of medicine, her PCP.  It was an uncomfortable transition at first.  Now it is a dream.  We are well taken care of.  In the adult world there are only a handful of special needs patients.  Anna is the minority.  I guess she has always been.  Or maybe not many make it to the adult years.  I am lucky, we are lucky.  At the adult office the staff treat us with care because I feel we are not the norm.  (In a good way, like a VIP patient).  

The sweet MA could not get Anna’s wheelchair on their scale, I let her try.  The chair was too big.  She apologized to me.  I was unphased.  I asked her if she could take a weight from her chart through another health system and she could!  That worked out.  She took Anna’s blood pressure and pulse with care and ease.  The doctor was great and suggested a few new things for her such as cervical cancer screening.  Did you know that Michigan Medicine has a clinic that specializes in women who are compromised and cognitively impaired in their gyno program?  Hot dog!   Yes, this is great.  So Anna will be screened for this in the upcoming months.  Anna’s new doctor takes his time and his staff is great, after a few hiccups in the beginning.  The doctor today told me that “I take excellent care of Anna.”  That never ever gets old hearing this from any medical professional.  It was flattering.  

Then we hit Hobby Lobby.  I needed to grab a few things to make a wedding scrapbook for my other daughter, Gabrielle.  We found a great handicapped spot (always a bonus) and went in the store.  Gosh, it looked like rain, but we were going to risk it. In and out I hoped.  

As I melted into all the sparkles and beauty in the craft aisle, I heard the roar.  The utter pouring on the roof.  It had come.  The rain had come and it was . . . .  of course raining cats and dogs, and probably horses too.  

I went to checkout and saw it coming down in buckets.  The cashier looked at me and I said, “I think I’ll wait it out a bit, pushing Anna’s wheelchair as I maneuvered past the checkout.  “You’re gonna be waiting a long time.”  She said rudely.  It’s times like this that I’m tempted to ask her to help me to the car with a bag, a purse and Anna in the pouring rain.  Like I wonder what she might say if I said, “Can you push my daughter out  because you think I shouldn’t wait?”  But I don’t let her make me into a negative ninny.  I just push past and go look around. Maybe I’ll buy more stuff, making it better for the store you know.    

By the time I get back up front, what do you know the rain has not stopped but it’s much more manageable.  I went out to the lot with Anna, and my two bags that I asked for to cover my paper that I just bought are fully protected from the rain.   

I see this lady putting her umbrella up.  She makes eye contact with Anna.  She goes into rescue mode.  She pushed her umbrella up faster.  Then she scurries over to Anna and me.  She says hello and smiles and she uses her umbrella to shield Anna with care.  She is 100% into helping.  She just charges in like a first responder.  She waits for Anna to get on the ramp and then tells me and her to have a most beautiful day.  

I’ve learned to just take the open help from beautiful good samaritans like her.  The world is a good kind place, if we just look in the right places to find it.