Healing Vibrations

Healing Vibrations
by Ma. Rosario L. Rote-Tejada, MD

It was during my actual clinical exposure that I really felt the life I am into. The feeling it gave me was that of awe-full gratitude and pride - gratitude to God for calling me into this vocation and to my parents, elders and teachers, who have patiently and generously molded me to who and what I am now; pride – for being God’s partner in the ministry of healing.

The first patients I can never forget are those who are critically and terminally ill. They have proven time and again, that if God calls a person to return to Him, man, though how rich or poor he may be, cannot do anything to refuse His call. The moment of death is an opportunity for us, the living, to ask the dying person, especially if he is a person of goodwill, to intercede for us in our efforts in achieving a very important wish. For me then, it was to pass the board exams. Of course, it was a wish granted! It was not simply their work; it was coupled with my hard work, too. Here, I saw the living and the dying in a partnership while their Creator sits back and looks at them, encouraging the good in each one dominate.

Immersion and empathy with my patients are important. It was so hard for me to reach out if I cannot understand them. This I realized when I had my first job at the Altavas District Hospital in Aklan. Akænon dialect was Greek to me. The place was so silently noisy because of the aloneness I felt within. Lucky for me, there was an Ilongga aid who acted as my interpreter. After about a month, I can already understand them though I cannot speak their dialect correctly. The two years I spent with them were memories I will always treasure.
The years of my residency training taught me how to deal not only with children’s illnesses, but also to let them speak for themselves. I also learned how to deal with their parents and most of all their more panicky grandparents.

Children always fear pain. The white gown is always equated with the pointed needle for injection. I appeal to you, Dear Parents, please do not equate us doctors, especially pediatricians, with injections. Don’t make them think we’ll get angry if they do not keep still. That is part of their normal growth and development. They need to be free to explore their capabilities and environment. Let’s be alert and anticipate, guide them and if needed, catch them when they fall. These are teachings both for them and for us. Let the children be. For us parents, whether we like it or not, there will always come a time we have to let go of our children. They have their own lives to live as we do.

Trust and faith are essential for healing to take place. The paralytic in the Gospel did not permit himself to be dropped from the roof to be brought to Jesus’ attention if he did not trust in the people who helped him and faith in Jesus to heal him. Same is true with the doctor-patient relationship. Any relationship in fact, has to be anchored in trust if it were to prosper. Healing will be achieved if there is trust. I have always felt this. Healing receptors from both patient and doctor will be opened and recovery takes place as healing vibrations are conveyed and absorbed.
With all these, I clothe my prescriptions with a prayer whispered to God to make my hands and judgment channels of His caring touch and wisdom to manage His love and care for children.
We are all God’s children and He cares for us deeply. He knows and wants only the best for us. We trust and pray for Him to heal us - our persons, our families, our communities, our country, our world. Amen.