Yet Another Bad Day At Work.
 

Imagine the most lovely, mellow, nice and cute 16 year old girl. Loving parents. Good grades. In love with a boy friend. Great expectations.

Imagine that girl telling you a story about her having problems forming words and speaking clearly the last three weeks. Having difficulties reading and suffering from headache several days a week.

Imagine you being the pediatrician ordering a cat scan.

Imagine that cat scan revealing a brain tumor the size of a small golf ball.

Imagine having to tell this wonderful girl the grim news. The same girl that yesterday had her whole life before her. Great expectations no more.

I canceled the rest of my afternoon and spent over two hours with the poor girl and her mom. Almost made up my mind to walk out and don´t look back. For the xxx time..

Markus, that is very sad. But you've brought them hope.

Imagine if they didn't know. What then? There are options now that wouldn't be there if you hadn't found this.

I can't imagine how hard it is, but you are doing a great service to these kids and their families.

You are a good man Marcus, remember that.

Markus, I've read a few of your posts like this over the years I've been around here, but it wasn't until we had our first child 2 years ago that I could fully appreciate what things like this must feel like to the kid and their family. I think sometimes you have the greatest job in the world, other times the worst. But remember the good stories, and the help you're able to provide those kids and their families.

Markus,
some days you cry with them,
BUT,
because of you and your team ,
there are parents who are laughing & enjoying their little ones today,and in yrs to come.

Rika

Horrible. :(

Unfortunately the world is an unfair and cruel place at times. Bad things happen to good individuals for no reason whatsoever.

It's all you can do to be honest, professional and clear about what options (if any) she has. At this point it's all you can do. They asked for honesty and to know the truth, which is what you did.

Sorry to hear - my thoughts are with them. I hope she does somehow manage to beat this.

Marcus, I know that you have help my wife and I, you shared your knowledge and experience with us and have help us in a way that you could never imagine. I hope that you could not walk away from a calling were you help so many.

Best wishes,

Let's hope it's a meningioma. I deal with these things by being positive and planning for a good outcome. I don't abandon my optimism until the final pathology reports are in and I can wrap my head around a definitive prognosis.

It's so hard to see the young ones struggle. Like you, I've been tempted to quit more times than I care to remember. Hang in there. Anybody can give vaccinations and take care of the healthy ones. This is the time they need you most.

You're going to see this family through this crisis whether the final outcome is good or bad. And it's going to be hard. It's going to tear your heart to pieces if it goes badly. But you'll hold it together and keep doing what you do because it's who you are. We are all glad there are people like you when our kids need help. Thanks, Markus.

Try to focus on how it feels when you get to help people, you're a hero to us and I thank you again for all you've done..

Marcus,

Its good that she had a Doctor like you. What are the chances that it can be removed successfully?

Sad to hear but at least it was found now instead of months later...

Joe

You are helping another human being. It is a good day.

Do they have a dedicated childhood cancer center like St. Jude's there? I have heard of so many miracles from Memphis.

Thanks guys. You are beautiful and you sure know how to make a grown man cry. Much appreciated. I will not have the exact diagnose until next week, but from the appearance of the cat scan it does not look good.

Funny how you guys thousands of miles away, who I have never met, can make me feel so much better.

You are the best.

Another reason I'm glad I'm not a doctor.

HBO had a special on Chernobol a few years ago showing all the children affected. Towards the end of the show they interviewed a gorgous 16yo girl who was there to see the doctor. She was saying how she expected the test to come back OK. Then they interviewed the doctor who was about to have to tell her she had terminal cancer. It brought me to tears and it was one of the few times I pulled out my credit card to try to help :(

I agree, you are helping and the fact that you took the time for them says a lot.

Sure hope its not glioblastoma multiforme. We had a real sad experience with that in my family.

God bless ....

Doctors have my upmost respect. Well, the good doctors do. We have a couple good guys on this board that see bad stuff all the time. Personally, I can't tolerate bad stuff. I bury my head at the bad sad stuff. I'm way too emotional to even think about visiting a childrens cancer ward. Who wants to see an old man sob? We'll write them a check, but I want to pretend the awful stuff doesn't exist.

Hell, I can't even go the animal shelter because I want to take them all home.
I'm a pitiful emotional weakling, but thankful for guys like Livi and Moses and the other caregivers here.

Markus, I don't know how you do it either, but that's what make you (and Moses, and others in your profession) special. You guys are "our" heros in my world too, thank you for all you do...

Markus ;

That must be a very, very hard thing to do.
My Dad has been doing it for 60 years ( 80 and still at it )

But I know that what you guys do makes a difference .
I know if only from watching the reaction of the people my Dad has treated .
My whole life people I don't even know have come up to me (and my siblings) and told us what a saint he is.

The science of Medicine does not always have the solution.
Pop has always said that the most important part of his job was just to listen to his patients .
You care and you do what you can.
That is the art of Medicine.

That is an awful lot.

Bless you and I wish you luck.

This sucks man.

Markus, no one expects you to win every one. We just expect you to try. I will hoist one tonight for you. It is rough, but tomorrow you got to get back in there and try again. Cause thats what has to be done.

Markus,

I have been on the receiving end of the bad news with my SO, but having a caring and sympathetic doctor like you really helped.

Thanks.

My wife was diagnosed with cancer when she was 18 (I was 20). She had great doctors. That was 20 years ago and we're blessed every day.

If you reach a point where dealing with a situation like that doesn't bother you... that's the time to quit.

The well of empathy you guys (doctors) draw from, moving forward in the face of such potential heartache, humbles me.

I wish you all well...and to you Livi, grace and hope.

Only a truly wonderful person could have written that note and felt her pain. My heart goes out to you and to her. I wish you and all your patients and loved ones the very, very best.

You beat me to it.
Markus it is people like you that make the world go around. It is comforting to know that people with the passion still exist in the world.

Markus,
You're a good man. I'm glad you were there for that young girl and her family. I'll say a prayer for her (and you).

Would that people were as easy to diagnos and work on as cars and bikes. Thanks for doing what you do.
Jim

THIS IS F****** BS! I hate these kinds of stories. I hope she gets better and all is well. Unfortunately, I hear these stories all too often. My wife is a PharmD and works in a cancer center. Not to mention she lost her brother to Leukemia and a first cousin to cancer. Plus a very close friend that lost her baby within 3 weeks of giving birth. That was a hard funeral to attend.

Sometimes she comes home all upset and crying about this patient or that patient and I have to remind her that she's helping to save a life. Sometimes she says this is too far advanced and all she's doing is slowing it down, I then tell her you just gave that person one more day they didn't have. Keep your chin up and suck it up, NO MATTER WHAT, YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

The only advice I can really give not being in the field is if I was a patient I wouldn't want to see my Dr break down or be sad about it because I'd think I'm screwed. Be strong and professional and give her a positive outlook even though you know better. In other words try not to create a depression state for her. Try to keep things positive and upbeat.

My wife has actually had, I think, two patients in Hospice that are now 'survivors'. So there is ALWAYS a chance.

We love you too brother..............

I am praying for that girl Marcus. Also praying for you to keep doing what you are doing. Like you said, anyone can give shots.

Wow Bill,
I didn't realise that Sandy worked that close with the patients. She DOES make a difference, even if it's just a little more hope.


Markus,
Not much I can add to what the others have said but you have my thoughts and prayers.

Markus, just remember that ALL of us hope to have a Doctor that cares as much as you do. Whether it be a common cold, or Cancer, It's so much better hearing it from a human, rather than a cold, clinical machine. I have no doubt the family was greatful to you in how you handled this, but I'm sure they were too shocked to show it right now. Then, to clear your schedule, and spend hours with the family!?!?!? That's unheard of today. You are a Good Man my Friend.

They say not to judge a man until you've walked a mile in their shoes. I would rather go Grizzly Bear hunting with a switch, than try to do what you do in a day.

I hope you can find peace during this, you deserve it.

Sucks man but it is Doctors like you (and Moses) who make situations like this...well...less bad.

Less bad is much better than any ordinary Doctor can hope for.

Monday night my wife was in a car accident with my 3 year old son. They both ended up in the ER - he was only a little shook up but I still wanted him checked out. The Pediatric ER doc could not have been a more gentle and careful man. I appreciated it so much as the boy was scared as heck and this Dr (I burned his name into my memory but won't mention it here) calmed him and was able to examine him gently and completely and afterwards my son was in a completely different state of being. While prior to the exam he was still shook up and scared, the experience with the good Dr he was nearly back to his inquisitive and smiling self.

Good Doctors are a genuine treasure and the 'good' is not simply measured by your knowledge. Your compassion and that you obviously feel for your patients will help them through the tough times ahead.

I'm relieved that she has a Doctor like you and that you have an outlet like this to help you.

Markus,

It's comforting to know that there are people like you around.

'nuf said.

Thanks!

Yeah Wayne, it's a lot closer then most people think.

Markus - Here in the States they are treated as pediatrics and at that age maybe you should treat this patient as an adult to be more aggressive. If their body is more 'adult' you should consider going outside the boundaries and treat them as such. Maybe you could treat them as a 'trial' patient. I know here there was a person that was short of their 18th B-day and they were supposed to be treaded as a 'child' but were able to give him doses as an adult and I ('we') think that made the difference. He's doing well today....

Markus, it takes a tremendous amount of character to do what you do; the world would be a very sorry place without people like you in it. Here's hoping the day is coming when you can tell this girl that her future is bright again.

Jim

sorry man. tough times don't last but tough people do.

My wife is a pediatric anesthesiologist. She specializes in chronic pain relief. There are some sad stories in this world.

It would be far sadder if no one cared. But my wife cares, and I care for her. And livi cares. So perhaps there is some hope for us.

And there are folks who say man is a failure, that we have no hope. You are proof positive that they are wrong. If only I had a portion of your courage. I know you're not looking for accolades Marcos, but Bravo!

Knowing you guys, I expected understanding and compassion, but this is almost overwhelming. Means a heck of a lot.

If Pelican membership was mandatory there would be no work left for any therapists, psychologists or shrinks!

What a wonderful bunch of human beings you all are.