In this first-person piece, Samantha Gogola, M.D. ’24, shares her experience with a scared patient reluctant to engage with her. It all changed when she held the woman’s hand. Gogola’s narrative first appeared in Reflective MedE; it has been edited and abridged for FIU Medicine.
The nurse hands me the heaviest patient chart, and I’m grateful for arriving an hour early. “Ductal carcinoma in situ,” “BI-RADS 4,” and “sentinel lymph node biopsy” flash before me as I flip through the extensive reports. The nurse, leaving to bring in the patient, returns with a young woman. Shockingly young. A glance at the chart reveals she’s just 20 years old.
While the nurse completes consent forms, I observe the patient responding only in Spanish. My attempts at communication go unnoticed. Behind a curtain, she changes into a gown and reappears, surrounded by a flurry of activity. Standing in a corner, I spot her, and a realization hits me: she’s crying.
Squeezing through the crowded space, I instinctively take her hand. Surprisingly, she responds by gripping mine tightly. Amid the orchestrated chaos of medical personnel and equipment, I notice her distress. The anesthesiologist reassures her about the IV sticks, the nurse comforts her, and the doctor affirms the early detection of her condition. As the curtain closes, it’s just me and the patient.
“How are you feeling right now?” I ask, surprising even myself. Her grip tightens as she looks up at me, admitting her fear of losing control under anesthesia. We talk, and her heart rate, visible on the monitor, gradually decreases. The anesthesia team returns, and I continue holding her hand as she’s rolled into the operating room. The monitor displays decreasing numbers, and she expresses gratitude as an oxygen mask is placed over her face.
Walking away to scrub in, I reflect on the profound impact of holding someone’s hand. Throughout medical training, we’re told that touch can comfort patients, but its true power becomes evident in this moment. Despite the initial resistance from the patient, our connection allowed her to express genuine fears. The reasons for her hesitation – perhaps our age proximity or language barrier – become irrelevant. Though I initially felt hurt, my commitment to providing the best care and support prevailed, making a significant difference.
In the end, the experience highlights the transformative nature of human connection, emphasizing the importance of empathy and the ability to provide comfort beyond medical procedures.