The Beauty of Small Gestures
Kids are very important to me.
Maybe that goes without saying since my calling involves bringing them into the world and helping their moms feed them. But it’s funny, for a place that spends so much time talking and thinking about babies, the hospital and birthing center are not places where I often interact with young children (other than the ones I snuggle after I deliver them by c-section).
This made what happened the other day even more meaningful to me. I was having an absolutely bananas call shift, so busy it gave me flashbacks to my residency days. I had a routine follow-up visit with a mom for whom I had performed a fairly common procedure a few weeks prior.
This time, however, she had brought her five-year-old son with her. He gave me a big hug and handed me a construction-paper folder.
With his family’s help, he had created a beautiful portfolio of his own and his siblings’ artwork. They had also included a photo of all three children. He had carefully written, “Thank you Dr. Braden” on the front in his finest Kindergarten printing.
As I said, the operation I performed for their mom was fairly routine. But patients will say very kind things, which sound surreal to me, like, “Thank you for saving my life.” I sometimes forget that my “routine procedure” is not routine for that mom, who needed medical intervention at that moment to help her in a profound way.
I was so moved by this gift. I can always feel that people are grateful for my help, but there was something magical about receiving children’s art. I’m sure that boy had no idea how meaningful that folder was to me, but I bet his mom did.
I’m always surprised at how much small gestures can mean, like a handwritten card or a child’s artwork. It doesn’t have to be something huge, just something small I can hang on my wall in my call room to remember why I do this crazy job. You could pay me all the money in the world and it wouldn’t compare to the feeling I get from gestures like that.
I know that my patients feel grateful for the care I give them, but they are not the only ones getting something out of the relationship. I can feel their gratitude, and it helps me keep going.
Dr. Braden’s Recommendations:
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking: Hygge (pronounced, “hoo-gah”) is trending right now. It’s a Danish concept that doesn’t translate easily into English, but basically means “a cozy and calm way of nesting in one’s house.” Imagine candles, blankets, and hot chocolate, being curled up on a couch at night while a snowstorm is blowing outside the house. My husband and I have been reading this book and we love it! I am currently trying to find ways to bring more hygge into my call room that won’t be a fire hazard…
Red light therapy masks: The data is in on these, and they do promote collagen turnover in one’s face. You know I wouldn’t recommend anything medical to you that I hadn’t reviewed for the data, and this checks out. They look ridiculous but they do help your skin. I believe you can even use your FSA and HSA benefits to purchase these now. No specific brand, just look around and see what makes sense for you.
Vitamin C Serum: I also swear by this; it helps fight oxidative stress in your skin and decrease age spots. The science behind it is solid. You don’t have to use an expensive brand: two that I recommend are Prequel (on Amazon, reasonably priced) and SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic (pricier but I use it daily). I love it; go check it out!
