When a story stops you

"In a world that can sometimes feel rushed and impersonal, what you have created here is something rare. You remind people that compassion, patience and simple human kindness still sit at the heart of medicine.”

Over the years at Care Opinion I’ve read thousands of patient stories.

Many of them have been difficult to read. Storytelling is raw. You see pain, anger and frustration alongside joy, relief and gratitude. Sometimes all of it in the same story.

Even though you’re not in the room with people, being exposed to so many experiences and emotions still has an impact.

But every now and then a story stops you.

This one did.

One of the things stories do so well is show care through the eyes of the person receiving it.

This story is written by a husband reflecting on his wife’s care in a palliative care unit after a ten-year cancer journey. The way he describes the people who cared for her, and the humanity behind their work, is extraordinary. You can read the story here. 

Reading it, I found myself wishing I could meet him just to say thank you. Thank you for putting into words what healthcare at its best can look like.

And for reminding us that care like this still exists.