Analise D Mello MBBS, MS obgyn, DNB
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
Your faith has saved you.”
As doctors, we heal (treat ailments) as part of our job! Treating someone on their worst day is what my job entails—of course, as an obgyn — I would be part of something massive… a celebration, a new life, and patients would remember us forever, good or bad experience—they would meet me randomly at marketplaces or church and show me the kid all grown up!
I, on the other hand, have zero memory of that child or mother, if uneventful!
Even with oncology, often patients come post-completion of treatment, and it’s hard to recognize the face with a head full of hair and even weight gain! I would have patients hug me, say thank you with fruits and chocolates, or even send me cards!
I did it because it was my job! Not for any extra reason, to be very honest! The job is hard and most times thankless, but watching your patient come back happy and healthy is worth all the effort.
Jesus has a job—to keep us safe and guide us to the Lord and treat our ailments and our woes! He listens patiently and will guide us to the management, but like my patients — we go doctor shopping and googling our issues on social media with other sources of “healing”—vices—and we end up worsening our situation….
So like a good doctor, He waits patiently for your next visit and may send some angels to check on you via family and friends or sometimes strangers. And when it gets so bad or we get the signal, we return to this doctor of life for some hope and medicine just like these lepers—but what’s the worst part? We don’t care about the doctor—we are so excited we are healed we just carry on!
We never thank the doctor or ask for His blessings… we assume it is His duty and job to heal us and treat us (it kind of is!), but we need to not forget our manners and say thank you!
Recently I was listening to a talk by a medical oncologist at my hospital who herself had ovarian cancer and lost her parents to lung cancer, and she explained how it takes 2 minutes to thank God every day for simple stuff when on chemotherapy—why do we need to be that sick to do our duty? Why are we not thanking our doctor for everything he does—the body we have, the food we eat… or even the ability to wake up the next morning alive!
Happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans !
This Advent, let’s just be thankful for everything and everyone!
And make it a point to thank our heavenly doctor for healing us every day!
AMEN
About the Author
Hello! I’m Dr Analise Maria D’ Mello, (MBBS, MS obgyn, DNB) from the beautiful state of Goa in India. I was born and raised in a Roman Catholic family, learning my prayers, catechism and Catholic values from my parents and grandmothers. I am currently practicing as an obstetrician and gynecologist for 3 years since my residency.
I often speak on anti-abortion to college students and married couples, and counsel distressed pregnant women with appropriate medical advice. I am part of the St Luke’s Medical Guild of Catholic Doctors in my state providing services in prisons, and Lenten and advent retreats for medical professionals and their families.
