One day, I went to see my last patient, an old woman. In the doorway, I saw she was trying to put socks on her feet. I stepped in and spoke quickly to the nurse. I was almost in the clear that she was not in serious condition.
I asked, Could I help put on your socks? How are you feeling? Your sugars and blood pressure were high but they are better today. The nurse mentioned you’re anxious to see your son. He’s visiting you today. It’s nice to have a family visit. I think you really look forward to seeing him."
“Sit down, doctor. This is my story, not yours.” She said in a serious voice.
I was surprised as I helped her with the socks. She told me that her only son lived around the comer from her, but she had not seen him in five years. She believed that was the main cause of her health problems. After hearing her story and putting on her socks, I asked if there was anything else I could do for her. She shook her head and smiled. All she wanted me to do was to listen.
Each story is different. Some are detailed; others are simple. Some have a beginning, middle and end; others don’t have clear ends. Some are true; others not. Yet all those things do not really matter. What matter to the story teller is that the story is heard—without interruption(打断) or judgment(评价).
It was that woman who taught me the importance of stopping, sitting down and truly listening. And, not long after, in an unexpected accident, I became a patient. 20 years later, I sit all the time—in a wheelchair.
For as long as I could. I continued to see patients from my chair. I believe in the power of listening.
How did the doctor know that the old woman’s son was visiting her?
A.The doctor got it from her chart noting. |
B.The old woman told him. |
C.The woman’s son told him. |
D.The nurse told him. |
What did the old woman think caused her health problems?
A.Her son’s not seeing her. |
B.No one listening to her story. |
C.The medical care of the hospital. |
D.The distance between her house and her son’s. |
When the patient told the doctor her stories, what she needed might be ___________.
A.keeping smiling |
B.interruption or judgment |
C.being listened without interruption |
D.communicating with each other |
What can we learn from the story?
A.We should live far from our parents. |
B.The doctors should take care of the patients. |
C.We should try to be a good listener. |
D.We should be brave and patient when facing difficulties. |