Fate

Occasionally I think about my future patients. One day our paths will meet, it may be the worst and last day of their lives. I haven’t met a victim of a car accident who wasn’t shocked and surprised to be in their situation. I’ve never met a man who knew when he would have his heart attack.

Somewhere my next cardiac arrest, drowning, assault or traumatic code patient is having a normal day. Fate will bring us together. Perhaps I walked passed them at the mall or was beside them in my car while waiting in traffic. We will meet on the most import day of their life since their birth. Fate will bring us together.

Is it weird that I think about that sort of thing? Does anyone else think of it? It’s even weirder when I reverse the roles, who will be there at my end? Will I know the paramedics or firefighters? Will they be my friends? It’s not something that may happen, it’s something that will happen for all of us. All I can do is when we do meet, I will be the best paramedic or firefighter I can be that day… and if I’m the patient then I wish the same for the first responders who come help me.

Fate

From Emergency Response Portraits