Thursday, November 7, 2013

Confirmation is always nice

Every now and then, if we are lucky, we receive confirmation that we are where we are supposed to be.  Whether that be in relationships, life, or our careers.  Yesterday was such a day.  

It was late in the day when I received a call from a parent of one of our patients.  The father sounded so excited I wasn't sure where the call was going.  He couldn't talk fast enough as he expressed his gratitude for what we had done for his son.  

He started by saying he and his wife had been fighting the "system" for some time and were just about at their wits end.  After being on our waiting list a short while they finally got in to our pediatric GI clinic.  He said that from the moment they walked in the front door they knew they were finally home.  He said, "It's the people, from the ladies at the reception desk who laughed with us to the dietician, who by the way deserves a raise, everyone made us feel as if we were the most important people they had seen all day.  Finally someone listened to us!"

At this point the dad began to cry and through choked tears he said, "My little boy is tasting food for the first time." 

I haven't written much about where I work but I can say there is no other place like it.....at least not in Oklahoma.  We have some of the most experienced people you will ever find working with children with developmental disabilities.  They are experts in their field with years of experience.  It is a one stop shop for everything from pediatric neurology to OT, PT, and Speech.  They treat everything from feeding issues to behavior problems.

We have beds for 36 inpatients and we treat outpatients from all over Oklahoma both on site and through tele-therapy and in schools.

I came here when I was 8 years old to dance for the patients.  The experience left a lasting impression on me and when I interviewed for my current position I knew this was where I was meant to be.  The young father I spoke with yesterday confirmed what I already knew.  
J.D. McCarty Center 
 

3 comments:

Deb said...

Dani,

To be where you know you should be, and for it to be as important as the place you are is the best.

Hugs from Canada

kenju said...

What Deb said! That is wonderful for you and for the place you work.

Olga said...

What a wonderful place for those who need that loving care. You are such a giving person in every aspect of your life.