Soul to Soul

Before she retired, she devoted 30 years of her life to treating cancer patients. The latter half of that impressive run was as the Chief Technologist at a highly regarded hospital. She was the only person in her state’s history to ever elevate a radiation therapy department to the professional level necessary to earn a Certification from the uppity American College of Radiology.

Prior to issuing the Certificate, the college authorities assigned inspectors to spend days in her department. They investigated everything. No detail was overlooked. All of her policy manuals were scrutinized and discussed. They checked for cleanliness, professionalism, billing procedures, goals, procedures and more.

The support staff she assembled was exemplary. They were trained in all of the latest types of treatments. There were experts at chemotherapy, implants and radiation therapy. She had her own physicist whose job it was to recalibrate the machines every day to insure the most accurate radiation treatments possible. They were all superbly trained, educated, experienced and skilled.

As exceptional as all of that was, this petite woman demanded even more of herself and her staff. Merely treating patients was not enough. There had to be one more important ingredient in “her” department. Compassion was essential. Allowances had to be made for any special needs her patients might have.

She knew that the unfortunate people who are subjected to the unique challenges of cancer are filled with emotion. They are usually elderly, exhausted, frail, confused and afraid. She looked upon their psychological well-being with equal importance as their physical condition. Not surprisingly, she actually bothered to “love” her patients, and they had no doubt about her sincerity. She connected with them “Soul to Soul”.

Her attitudes and philosophies were contagious. She attracted other professionals of similar minds, and together they built a department that was second to none. They received thank you notes, candy, flowers and heart-felt hugs by the hundreds for the kind way “you treated Daddy when he needed your tenderness” or “the way you cheered up my wife every day.” And of course there were the young people who were ill. Her department was God’s gift to them all.

Devotion like that does not go unnoticed. Doctors referred their own patients, friends and families to her distinguished department. Then one day she received a call from a famous TV star who was in need of her services. His doctor knew the best place to send him. Like so many other patients, the actor had a special problem. He was well-known so if he obtained treatments during normal office hours the press would get wind of it and distract the public from his work.

She handled it perfectly. She set up an early-dawn meeting with the actor and laid out a plan which she had devised especially for him. She established an “alias” file and referred to him as “Mr. Nelson”. She and her staff came to work an hour and a half early each day for six-weeks to administer his treatments so that he could slip away before the department’s customary office hours. Mr. Nelson’s secret was safe.

She did not make these allowances for Mr. Nelson just because he was actually Raymond Burr (Perry Mason videos). She did it because that is what “Mr. Nelson” truly needed, “Soul to Soul”. They would have done the same thing for anybody who needed such an accommodation. A couple of months later, Mr. Burr showed his appreciation by taking the entire department and their spouses to a luxurious banquet. He also invited his staff and all of the other actors from his then current series (Ironside). Mr. Burr genuinely enjoyed seeing all of his old friends and new friends comingle.

Raymond Burr is not the only famous or powerful person to seek out this special woman. The famous astronaut, Jack Swigert, who was played by Tom Hanks in the movie Apollo 13, also needed her. So did a well known grocer and many others. She also shared inspirational experiences with famous athletes and coaches. They all respected the gifted little woman who barely weighed 110 pounds.

After she retired, a huge void became immediately apparent in that formerly-inspired department. The other techs sought positions in hospitals closer to their homes. The new mangers were competent, but unable to live up to the legacy she left behind. Eventually, the certification came up for renewal and they just couldn’t match her standards, so it silently expired. No other certificates of its kind have ever been awarded in her state.

There is no doubt that this extraordinary woman has inspired many others to reach out and achieve greatness. She accomplished so much because she understood that to convert her dreams into reality she had to employ two other special qualities: Commitment and Action.

Many men and women never do understand the importance of these concepts. We have all imagined accomplishing something, but failed to “commit” to our dreams, so we fall short of our potential. Or there are those times when we see a friend at a party and say something like, “Let’s get together for dinner, sometime.” When they agree we have the commitment, but we never follow through, and that lack of action steals away accomplishments. So, you see inspiration without Commitment and Action is merely fantasy, and this woman was not willing to let her destiny be determined by the whims of incomplete fantasies. As she has shown us all, true achievement requires taking those two additional steps: Commitment and Action.

If you are wondering how I ever learned of such a special woman, I am pleased to say I have been married to her for 39 years. Her name is Patty. Her work is just one of several ways that Patty has been inspiring others throughout her life. She has amazed me over and over again. And I hope now, in some small way, she has also inspired you,

She is top center in the picture. Click on it to enlarge.

Note: The above story was written for a speech I gave at Toastmasters. As I was driving home, afterwards, it occurred to me that we all take too much for granted. Most of us are surrounded by greatness in the everyday people we know and love. This was one of the few times I really took the time to appreciate the woman who has meant so much to me and I am disappointed in myself for that. Patty deserves so much more.

So, all of this leads me to a few questions which I have for you.

Who has inspired you, and deserves your appreciation?

What Commitment are you willing to make to show them your appreciation?

And what Action are you willing to take to assure that your inspiration and commitment are not just parts of a fleeting fantasy?

Your input is welcomed

don't forget my other blog about family finances