WE HAVE GOOD NEWS TO SHARE!

One of our case managers encountered a BJC doctor outside our agency. He had been up all night because he had found a woman in the middle of the road as he was leaving his shift at the hospital. He had put her in his car and drove around while she slept and he decided what to do. Someone suggested the doctor bring her to St. Patrick Center.

The woman was sleeping in the passenger’s seat. The case manager awakened her and she was very groggy and had difficulty answering questions. The doctor said she was unable to speak when he had picked her up. The case manager helped the woman out of the car and she was eventually able to ask if she could go somewhere out of the cold. 

The case manager brought the woman inside St. Patrick Center and the doctor followed, juggling a sandwich and coffee he had purchased for her. They all went to the Shamrock Club and the case manager helped the woman to some breakfast. The doctor exchanged contact information with the case manager and prepared to leave.

But then he turned around and asked if we take donations. He pulled several bills out of his wallet and gave them to the case manager. The case manager escorted him through the secure doors and once again the doctor turned around, this time with tears in his eyes. He tried to speak but could not. A few steps later, he tried again. This time, he said “I don’t do this kind of thing. I diagnose brain tumors in children, but I don’t…” and his voice trailed off. There was another moment of silence between them, then he turned and made his final exit.

1. Shelly W.

   June 23, 2011 at 2:24 pm

   Thank GOD for St. Patricks Center and this doctor. I am an employee of the Washington University School of Medicine and work day to day with the docs at BJC and I thought I had a sense of pride before reading this story to be part of the the medical community, BUT WOW, I AM OVERWHELMED AND BEAMING WITH PRIDE NOW… I HAVE TEARS IN MY EYES AS WELL.. JOB WELL DONE ON EVERYONE’S PART!!!