Yet Another Bad Day At Work.

[livi]

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 donīt look back. For the xxx time..

[71T Targa]

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.

[Buckterrier]

You are a good man Marcus, remember that.

[Christien]

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.

[Rikao4]

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

[m21sniper]

Horrible.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

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.

[peppy]

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,

[Moses]

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.

[lendaddy]

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..

[Joeaksa]

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

[alf]

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

[rouxroux]

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

[livi]

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.

[David]

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

[ErVikingo]

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 ....

[TerryH]

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.

[KFC911]

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...

[JCF]

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.

[Hawktel]

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.