Robots, Ruthy, & Renaissance!

A rambunctious robot was whirring by my driveway when my cell phone rang.  The now, routine robots, seemed more commonplace on the sidewalk than a bicycle, and I grabbed my buzzing phone.  It was my cardiologist following up.  When I explained my symptoms he instructed me to get to the Stanford ER immediately and he would meet me there.  Of course, I was tested for the Coronavirus, and then they admitted me.  My cardiologist had a surgery cancellation for the following day and they slotted me right in.  They delivered me to operating room as effortlessly as the robot was delivering groceries!

Robots are doing cardiac surgery now, but I was happy to have Dr. Nguyen do mine!  The robots really got me thinking about all the changes in the world – especially during these epoch times.  The physical changes in the hospital were noticeable as adaptations were made for COVID-19.  (I had just been in the same hospital, in the same wing, six months earlier having a similar heart procedure.)  What remained constant was the “United Nations” caring staff.  During my stay, I came into contact with 15 American nurses of different ethnicites all working together and determined to help me heal.  No robot could do that!

Yet, there is a place for the robot and the nurse, just like there is a place for change and growth.  Sometimes it takes something radical to get our attention.  When I signed the papers for my procedure the first thing it said was “you could die.”  The second thing was “you could have a heart attack” and the third thing was “you could have a stroke.”  That got my attention.  As a result, I am grateful to be alive and have the opportunity to face the challenges in this new world environment.

Someone who is not going to have that freedom is my dear friend Ruthy who passed away last week.  Ruthy was more than a dear friend, she was “as family” as any family member could be.  I had the honor of knowing her for 60 years.  I worked with her, traveled with her, played with her, and prayed with her.  She left this realm one month prior to her 95th birthday and she will be missed.

My belief is that when we die or “cross over” we go through a life review.  We are asked one question and there is no judgement in that question.  It simply is, “How could I have been more loving?”  I was thinking about Ruthy and all the selfless things she did in her life and I determined what a stellar example she was.  She was open-minded and forgiving and loved unconditionally.  I told myself, at 65,  I have 30 years to become like Ruthy!

So…I shall take a lesson from the robot and embrace change.  I’ll take my hospital experience and be more compassionate and grateful.  And I will aim to be more loving and forgiving like Ruthy!  That will be my renaissance!