"This matters to him, I think -- to feel, at least occasionally, that he doctors in obscurity, so that he knows he doctors first of all because he believes it's the right thing to go. If you do the right thing well, you avoid futility." Tracy Kidder about Dr. Paul Farmer.
Just finishing a good book for our local library's book club, Mountains Beyond Mountains, about the work of Dr. Paul Farmer in providing medical treatment for the poorest of the poor. Thought provoking. It has also caused me to consider that what wealthy nations do is not always for the best for the people of a region. Much of what we do as caregivers, we do in obscurity. That is one reason it is so important to be aware of elder abuse: both for the care receiver and for the caregiver. It is encouraging to know that when we are doing the right thing well (in providing respectful care or in some other right actions), then what we are doing is not futile.
Dwane's daughter and family left yesterday. A good visit. I am so glad he got to see them. He was so excited they were coming, and he did what I have noticed he does to show he loves people: he spent days readying the vehicle that we lent them. While he is not always able to communicate nor be interactive, he does show his love through his action toward people -- as much as he can. It was good to get to know them all better. And, they were instrumental in fixing my greenhouse, for which I am so grateful!!
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