Author: Michele Minehart (Page 297 of 311)

Dear Lady In The Waiting Room,

Please don’t stare. I realize you probably have not seen an infant with hearing aids. You’re probably very curious. But please don’t stare. It doesn’t make it easier on Him or Me. You see, it’s taking a bit of adjustment on our end, too.

You might go home this evening and tell your Husband In The Waiting Room about that “strange thing you saw today.” And maybe next time we cross paths in the waiting room you’ll work up the guts to ask “what’s wrong with him?” I suppose you’re probably just on the front end of the number of times I’ll be asked that question. Someday maybe I’ll be given words to explain the situation without frustration, fear, anger or over-protectiveness speaking for me.

Lady In The Waiting Room, I hope you understand at what – Who – you are staring. This beautiful baby isn’t incapable. He’s not dumb. As his Pseudo-Aunt Kristy says, there’s a problem with his ears, not a problem with him. He’s going to grow up to be a bundle of energy. In fact, his hearing aids will probably be least on the list of problems he’s going to cause his mommy and daddy. Mom will likely stress more about him getting hurt on the football field or his consistent mediocre grades on the spelling tests (because, hey, he’ll get that honest).

What you don’t see, Lady In The Waiting Room, is the hope that is still active in this, and every, child. He might be curing your cancer someday. Or leading your community government. Or teaching your children. Maybe he’ll even marry your granddaughter. If that is so, how will you describe him to your friends? “That Kid With The Hearing Aids?” Or a boy of great character, that treats people well, that is driven to be successful, provide for a family and is passionate about Jesus? Because that’s the kind of boy I am believing in, hoping for and trying to raise.

Maybe, Lady In The Waiting Room, you should quit gawking and start smiling. Because the Kingdom of God is for such as these. And if you knew this little guy, you’d be thrilled with what the Kingdom of God has to offer.

In God’s Restoring Love,
Henry’s Mom

i didn’t mean to provoke that much interest, but because i was asked, i will explain. it’s not really a knock on professions or persons, but a state of the industry.

i spent the week interviewing sales reps for a pharmaceutical drug company this week. now these people are in sales. that’s what they do. one person told me that she could “sell matches to a firefighter”. good for her that she’s good at what she does, and from what i could tell, most of them really love what they do.

i have no problems with sales people promoting a product that they believe will help people. i generally don’t love all things medical and rarely take a drug if i can help it, but the profession serves a worthwhile purpose and drug companies have the capacity to do some amazing things.

here’s my problem: i had a rep tell me that she got the doctors in her territory to promise her 2 scripts a week (for the month of december). it’s not that she was promoting the product. it’s not that doctor was prescribing it. it’s the coordination of the two. i can’t hardly believe that ALL these doctors said, “you know, i hadn’t thought about your drug before when it comes to X and Y patient. i bet i can prescribe this drug to them!” maybe one did. or two. but the entire territory?

before doing my job, i had a general faith that if i were ill that my doctor would go to his big reference book and prescribe me the best drug to alleviate symptoms or rid my body of the culprit. now i’m cynical enough to realize that there just might be doctors out there who will prescribe a drug to help a nice sales person meet quota and not necessarily (or primarily) to help me get well. **Erin, you are right, that not all – and i’d argue most – doctors are like this. And it’s also, as i said, a statement of industry, not profession.

so my status was to encourage you to be informed, be active in your health care decisions. don’t let some cute 20-something with free donuts be the decision-maker for what you put into your body. i am optimistic enough to think that most doctors, once you engage them in discussion as to why they are making their recommendations, will gladly appreciate your involvement and work with you to find the best possible solution. maybe it is the over-priced name brand drug that the donut girl brought in. maybe it’s not. but talk to your doctor to find out what is behind his decisions – not to insult him/her, but to participate in becoming well.

10. she has to finish the book, even if it’s bad
9. impeccable taste in nail polish
8. her willingness to share nail polish
7. she’s a book whore, much like myself.
6. she loves my baby – and not just because he’s just any baby
5. we share friends and there’s never, ever, a sense of “i know more” or “i’m closer to” competition
4. she’s honest and up front about her “high maintenance” life of fans and multiple pillows.
3. she drops poptop cans of biscuits because she doesn’t like the popping. i HATE that too, but i’m not smart enough to drop them on the floor.
2. grace and patience seem to be a package deal – she has massive amounts of both (interestingly enough, ALL my friends do… hmm…)
1. when i was complaining about the meaningless sound someone was making because it “wasn’t teaching henry anything” she responded, “he doesn’t always have to be learning.” what a wonderful, eloquent, truthful way of saying “get over it, michele” right when i needed it.

i love friends.