Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Shelter clinic opens every Thursday at six,
First time seeing a “real” patient, I’m waiting at the door.
No more standardized patients, no more mimics…
My stethoscope feeling a bit heavier than before.
I introduce myself, gel in, and put on a confident face.
The patient greets me with a smile,
But he’s had shortness of breath for days.
A thorough history and physical I compile.
He rubs his right knee in pain.
How long has that been bothering you?
An overuse injury he can explain.
Little did I know who I was talking to…
He’d played in the World Cup in ‘89
Scoring goals across the field line.
