“Wisdom of the Week – One”: from a post ent to me – Sermo ….

The wisdom of saying the right words that both explain & inspire.

Patient Case Submission: “Wisdom of the Week – One”: The wisdom of saying the right words that both explain & inspire.

I really like what American print & broadcast journalist Germany Kent opined, “It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack”.

It perfectly summarized how a wise neurosurgeon I knew explained to a 10-year-old boy about his paraplegia, inspiring him to accept & live with his lifelong disability & to achieve in his life. The boy had a spinal cord glioma that presented with paraplegia. It was resected & radiated. He was cured of his tumor but the paraplegia persisted.

The wise neurosurgeon found the right words to explain the paraplegia to the boy.

He said, “What are the things you like to do best?” The boy said, “I like working on my computer. I am very good at it. I am also very good at basket-ball”.

The neurosurgeon said, “There you are! You can become the best computer-programmer in the world when you grow up. And you can also be a champion wheelchair basket-ball player!” The boy stared at the neurosurgeon, gulped & blinked back his tears. He got the message. He understood that he would never walk again.

And do you what, he did accomplished both his goals, above & beyond everybody’s expectations.