Our Medical Heroes

As I sit here listening the sound of wet pitter patter alternating with the crispy pings of ice fall, I am remembering the medical heroes that risk their own lives to save others on days just like today. Sure, plenty of doctors are motivated by money and can be curt and unfeeling. I will save my thoughts on that for another time. Today, as the ice slowly covers my office window, I picture that neurosurgeon in Alabama that walked six miles through the snow to perform a critical surgery. I see the thousands of nurses and medical assistants who are braving the icy conditions as I write just to do their job.

In the midst of Winter Storm Janis, Zenko Hrynkiw got out of his car dressed in his scrubs, and made his way to the hospital in the 20 degree weather. After the laborious two hour journey, he was able to operate on the patient to stop the bleeding in the brain, and save his life. Let’s just say, that’s more than I did that day! And, I am sure there will be more stories like that following Winter Storm Pax.

I am inspired not only by compassionate acts such as this, but also by anyone who goes above and beyond what they are paid to do. It is the people who find motivation from a deeper place that have my greatest respect. Regardless of the type of job you do, it is important to find the thing that makes you uniquely valuable to others, and personally satisfied with your own efforts.

The medical field is caring by definition, and one obvious place to find career fulfillment. Not everyone actually saves lives, but just getting a needle into a vein with precision is important. Trust me, it didn’t work out like that for me the last time I had blood drawn! Medical jobs, however, take a lot of sacrifice, not to mention a willingness to do things that I can’t even watch on TV.

I am happy to see medical staffing agencies finding their place in the healthcare chain. They, too, have my highest regard for their part in getting the right people in the right jobs to do amazing things. Staffing Perfection in Atlanta and others like them should be proud of their work. My daughter was asked to define “community helper” last week. That’s a good question. We each have our role, don’t you think?