How the Tables Have Turned
by Dr. Coral Matus
Personal Statement:
I wrote this while visiting my daughter, who is a PGY-1 Family Medicine resident. We had dinner plans, but she called to tell me that there was a patient in labor who was “complete and pushing,” so she was going to be a bit late. I had a surreal flashback to the many times I made that call to her; this is the result:
How the tables have turned…
She was a schoolgirl waiting with anticipation for the report from my day. Girl? Boy? Had she guessed correctly?
Did the guessing game help her focus less on the waiting?
Did she realize that I was pursuing my passion, but that didn't mean she was any less important to me?
Did she realize that I struggled almost daily with the guilt of disappointing her or making her sad?
She is a young doctor in training. I wait in anticipation for the report from her day. Girl? Boy? Did I guess correctly?
Praying for her safety, well-being and peace helps me focus less on the waiting.
Knowing she is pursuing her passion makes the waiting worth it.
I pray she feels no regret or guilt for pursuing her dream. I am so proud of her.
Dr. Coral Matus is the Associate Dean for Clinical Undergraduate Medical Education and an Associate Professor within the Department of Medical Education and the Department of Family Medicine at the UTCOMLS
