John Piper: "Ten Lessons from a Hospital Bed"

  1. The patient refused autopsy.
  2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
  3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
  4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
  5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
  6. On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.
  7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
  8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
  9. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.
  10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert but forgetful
  11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
  12. She is numb from her toes down.
  13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
  14. The skin was moist and dry.
  15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
  16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
  17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid. [helps to know where the thyroid is located to get this one!]
  18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
  19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.
  20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
  21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
  22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
  23. Skin: somewhat pale but present.
  24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
  25. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

On my own 4 day hospital stay in 2012: here and here [followed by 2 months off work]

It’s difficult to witness to someone when you are throwing up or worse. But when seeing a doctor or other professional over a period of time a relationship of sorts develops. I was able to gift two Drs with nice ESV study Bibles. In first case, I had seen the Dr probably 6-8 times. On the last visit I thanked her and gifted her with the Bible. In the second case, I saw the Dr twice. I sent him an ESV study Bible for his birthday (he has previously accepted my FB friend request).