Hard To Describe

 This may and may not be related to the patient care...

A few weeks ago, a patient and his son came to see me for a follow up in the early morning. Before I sat down, the son apologized to me as he took a plastic bag out. He started to explain that he has to have breakfast as I start his father's visit. I told him that it was fine. Then his father started to shake his head.

He took out a Styrofoam cup filled with cornflakes and another cup filled with milk covered with plastic wrap. He says. " I wonder, is there a place where I can get a spoon?" I first ask him if he is a diabetic, if he gets hypoglycemic, if he feels alright, etc.... He says,  "I am fine. But my mother packed my breakfast for me this morning as I was leaving with my father. She was worried that I run to work after the visit with empty stomach and made me promise I take the bag and eat them before I get back to work". I smiled as he was rummaging through the bag and found the plastic spoon she packed for him with a smile. She packed something for his father also but it would have to be after his visit with me as she wasn't sure if he could eat before he sees me or not but he also was given a bag with a cup cereal, milk, a banana, and a spoon.

From that day on I began to see his son differently.
He wears a nice suit when he comes in with his father and he is quite polite.
He is a son who is doing his best to take care of his father during his work. He is a son of a mother who does not dismiss his mother's love and effort in taking care of him.