Death and Laughter

[FinanceDude]

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

Scenario this morning: 81 year old woman seen with advanced ovarian cancer, soon to have noncurative but major surgery ("debulking" of the tumor). Lots of medical complications, surgery dangerous but necessary for symptom control. She came down from "The Villages" which is an extraordinarily well-run and successful community a couple of hours north of here. It's know for middle class friendliness, golf, old-people jokes.

After exchanging greetings we started chatting. Her daughter drove her down but was not initally present. Lightheartedly I asked her how she got to Tampa this morning, and wondered out loud if she took her golf cart down the interstate. She started chuckling, then laughing, leading to a monolog that would have done Robin Williams proud. She had me in stitches; her daughter joined us mid-monolog and soon the three of us were having a party.

I know about nervous laughter, defensive laughter, social laughter, and laughter simultaneous with tears of sadness. I know how laughter sometimes is an outlet for fear and grief. This probably had all the above about it, but mostly it felt like just good old, genuine, shared humor for all of us.

After we composed ourselves and accomplished the goals of the appointment we all had smiles on our faces. Daughter offers that this is the first time she has heard her mother laugh in a year. Mother gave me a bear hug, and her neckace caught on my stethoscope, starting a new round of more subdued laughter all the way out the door.

Just thought I'd tell you how my morning went. It's a good day.

I am 1000% sure this is one of the MAIN reasons you went into medicine............