Your loved ones know your list…
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Dr. Ivan Edwards (DO, FAAPMR, FRSA) is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and simultaneously accepted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK). He is... more
I’ll never forget the day when I received a call that impacted me greatly. It was early in the morning, and I was doing my rounds in a healthcare facility. The head nurse urgently called me to attend to one of my patients who was having difficulty breathing. I was familiar with the patient: a successful professional who had decided to go to hospice and had signed a DNR order. Approaching the patient at the bedside, I held his cold hand and started reciting a psalm with him - something he had shared with me earlier that he wanted done. Midway through the psalm, his grip slowly weakened, and he peacefully died. After officially pronouncing him dead, I sauntered to the Nurses’ station to notify his next of kin. It was around 6 am, an hour I dreaded making such calls. My conversation with the next of kin was brief. “Mr. Doe” (not his real name), I began, “Sorry to wake you. I have some unfortunate news. Your father just passed away.” He sighed and replied, “It’s okay. Hey, listen. My father had a list, and on that list, we, his family, were number four or five. His career, job, money, and possessions preceded us. Thanks for letting me know though. May his soul rest in peace. Bye.”
He hung up. I stood in shock as my jaw dropped. The encounter left me with a profound lesson: we must prioritize our families and loved ones. It was a stark reminder that no matter our achievements or station in life, our relationships must be at the top of the list. Later that morning, as I sat in my car, I called my kids. I told them I loved them and emphasized that they were my top priority, second only to God. The lesson I learned from this experience is that we must prioritize our relationships with our loved ones, no matter what else is going on in our lives. This story is part of my written memoirs, a recollection of an actual true event. Names, characteristics, and other details have been changed to protect privacy. Any similarities to anyone living now are coincidental.
About the writer
Dr. Ivan Edwards is a renowned medical doctor (board certified in the specialty of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation), a USAF Reserve flight surgeon, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, a humanitarian, an entrepreneur, and an international motivational speaker.
He lives in San Antonio, TX, where he practices medicine.