My first patient...as a doctor this time.

After reading about my first "patient" as a med student, my first fake patient, and my first patient as a Med 3, you may have been waiting for me to write about my first patient as a real doctor.  So here it is:

There was nothing striking about my first patient.  I already don't even really remember his name.  It was an uneventful quick office visit for a simple follow up.  The fact that it was unremarkable though, is what made it remarkable.

It doesn't take long being exposed to pediatrics to realize that a lot of kids have a tough life.  Parents don't always look out for their kids.  Some parents try really hard and have good intentions but live in a really negative environment.  Sometimes, parents just don't know anything else.  And occasionally, parents deliberately harm their children.  It's easy to get jaded and start to wonder if there are functional family units with loving parents.  And that is exactly what made my first patient memorable.  The parents were fantastic.

Their child had special needs and they had been working tirelessly to provide for his needs to see him excel.  They supported each other, were surrounded by a great support system, and lived out love.

What impressed me the most was their approach to medical care for their child.  They had an amazing balance of respecting the role of the medical providers while advocating for their child and also recognizing where limitations existed.

They truly respected the physicians and nurses around them (It's shocking how many families don't).  But they also respectfully advocated for the needs of their child.  They weren't afraid to stand up for what they knew their child needed even if it meant having to fight for it.  Through that advocating, they were also aware of limitations.  Their own limitations and those of the health care team.  They had realistic expectations, but respectfully fought for them.  It's a tough balance, but this family had mastered it.

As the days continue in residency, I appreciate more and more the families who understand this balance.  Every time a parent cusses me out, signs their child out of the hospital AMA, or has intentionally harmed their child - I try to remind myself of the great families. 

Most pediatricians will tell you that parents are the hardest part of the job.  While I don't deny I often feel that way, there are a lot of great parents out there too.  

But I didn't go into pediatrics for the parents...