Gratitude for Our Medical Teams

I just want to take a moment to express my gratitude towards all medical personnel, from doctors to nurses to support staff to first responders to those making appointments and answering the phones. I feel like my "thank you" is never enough, whether it's for my own care or a loved one.

They keep showing up for us

My team has always been exceptional, from the technicians on scan day to the lab workers at the appointment desk. I always try to say thank you and assure them that they are needed and appreciated. These men and women show up day after day doing hard things, and they choose to keep showing up for us.

I recently experienced an extended stay in an intensive care unit with a family member, and it was absolutely surreal to watch. Every single person that was responsible for the care of my family member was absolutely amazing.

They cared about my loved ones. This wasn't just a job to them, but a way of life.

A thankless career

These men and women face death and dying every single day, and sometimes, the very best that they can do for a patient isn't enough. I witnessed a rapid response team transporting a patient down a public hall and a nurse performing chest compressions.

I was in an immediate state of trauma and wished I had not witnessed that. This was just another day in acute care for those nurses and that team.

For me, it was something that I spent days thinking about and wondering about that patient. That could have been me or my family. I would want them to do everything possible to save me or my loved one.

Their careers are often thankless, I feel like. I am not sure how they are able to compartmentalize their careers from their personal lives. My family member was in their care for 19 days and got attached to many on the team.

I think those wonderful people would also get attached to their patients. I personally would also.

Working through burn out

I have many friends in the medical field in some capacity, from hospitalists to practical nurses, and I have often asked how they do it. The job really takes it out of them. I would think any human would say the same thing in this line of work.

I asked one of my loved ones' respiratory therapist how he was able to keep going after 18 years on the job, and he expressed things like decompression, compartmentalizing, and taking time away when burnout reared its head. He was employed during COVID and mentioned how burnout was very real to him during that time. I personally can't imagine the hard that all medical personnel experienced during that time inside the hospitals as well as those working for ambulance services.

Thankful for lung cancer medical researchers

Let me not leave out medical researchers. How thankful many of us with lung cancer are, especially for those who desire to learn about mutations and ultimately find cutting-edge ways to treat us. The pharmaceutical companies work hard to find solutions for us to live longer lives progression-free and to give us more options for treatment.

Thankful for all medical personnel

I am so grateful that there are literal angels among us in the medical field who are willing to choose this field for so many who need it. I can hardly watch my nurse stick me for a blood draw, and I certainly know that I couldn't handle doing the job, much less the emotions that come alongside it.

Gratitude for those in medicine, like I said, is often a thankless career. I am so thankful that so many are willing to do the job for us.

I feel that many are answering a true calling in their life as I have personally witnessed and experienced dedication and compassion among medical professionals, from doctors to nurses to support staff. Many work 12-to-16-hour shifts, holidays, and weekends, and they likely miss many family gatherings and special occasions to help others.

There are many complex challenges for them day in and day out, yet they keep showing up for us in times of fear and uncertainty and, I am sure, many very difficult days. All medical personnel profoundly impact our lives and communities, and I am grateful for every single one.