The father of modern medicine, William Osler, once said, “The whole art of medicine is in observation… but to educate the eye to see, the ear to hear and the finger to feel takes time, and to make a beginning, to start a man on the right path, is all that you can do.”
This statement struck me upon first reading it. It strongly relates to my assignment as a Direct Support Professional (DSP). I am not yet a doctor, nor a medical student, but a graduating senior studying nutritional science whose goal is to be a physician. My aspiration is to be a doctor who upholds the standards in Osler’s statement. As a young African American woman who was reared in a Ghanaian culture with no experience with people who have disabilities, I am encouraged by my success and fulfillment in the work that I do now. During my third year in college, I learned about an open position as a DSP. As a DSP, I have the amazing opportunity to work with Georgia Options, a non-profit organization founded in Athens, Georgia. Its main goal is to help adults with developmental challenges live comfortably in their own homes and be valuable contributors to their communities as they are able and choose to be.
My DSP assignment with Casey*[1], a thirty-seven-year-old woman with Down’s syndrome has meant more to me than I could have imagined. She has helped me to open my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my heart to connect. I hope my journey with Casey brings you into my world of being a premed undergraduate student who is using her not-so-medical job to prepare her to be a lifelong student of medicine.
Opening my eyes
Observing Casey in different environments has taught me how to adjust to her needs and help her achieve her goals. Observing is congruent to listening. My role as a DSP has been to notice her unique needs, expressed or not, and assist her where it is possible. Whether we are swimming at the pool, taking a walk together, going to a doctor’s appointment or having lunch, I try to be in tune with her facial expressions and body language. When Casey is nervous, she has a back-and-forth motion, which alerts me to take control of the situation before it escalates. Sometimes all she needs is a reassuring statement from me like, “Everything will be okay”. In the aftermath, Casey and I often debrief and discuss ways we can help her manage her emotions. I encourage her to be in control and find alternative ways to react.
Opening my ears
Doctors are encouraged to listen to their patients and often draw on what they hear for a diagnosis. Although, sometimes this is easier said than done. Going through the motions of life, we often do more talking than listening. As I have worked with Casey, I have come to appreciate the art of listening in order to understand.
When I ask Casey a question about what she would like to do, she may not have a ready answer. I then offer her options. As she becomes more comfortable, she begins to embellish on my options and take us in new directions. When I give Casey the opportunity to tell me what she enjoys doing, she provides valuable direction. Casey enjoys the outdoors and participating in events with friends and family outside of her normal routine. I make it a point to give her freedom to express herself and share new activities she would enjoy doing. Her answers do not always come in a straightforward manner, but patience and attentiveness help me to understand her.
Accommodating for her needs as a woman with Down’s syndrome has also helped me sharpen the skill of tactfulness in asking questions. Asking Casey to help me understand is an important tool in our relationship. At times when Casey might balk at my suggestions, I have learned to open my ears to her perspective and try to clear up any worries she may have. When certain questions trigger a negative response, I take time to better explain what I am asking of her and allow her to express her feelings. For example, Casey may get anxious when I ask her thoughts about concerts, because she does not enjoy loud music. With patience and time, I try to assure her that I am only asking her opinion and that she does not have to go to a concert. Along the way, I have learned to ask questions in a more effective way which has helped me to be a better listener.
A unique trait I have observed about Casey is her affinity for sharing her life experiences with people around her. She has experienced many challenges in life (death of her mother, moving to a new area away from her extended family, friends, and job, and a life-threatening illnesses). She freely shares and rejoices in the retelling of her life events. For example, she lost over fifty pounds by faithfully following a weight loss program, and she has maintained her weight loss. These are inspiring stories that allow me to bond with and edify Casey and I do not take those opportunities lightly. Our relationship continues to be enriched through talking, listening and hearing one another.
Opening my heart
Over the past two years, Casey and I have formed a deep connection—something I had never imagined possible. During my time with her, I have wanted our shared moments to be happy and productive but scheduling times together can sometimes be challenging. For instance, at one point, my school schedule made it possible for me to work only on Saturdays. I made it my priority to make Saturdays memorable for Casey and as a result, “Super Saturdays” evolved. Every time I have walked through the doors of her home on Saturday mornings, I am met with a vibrant “Happy Super Saturday” greeting by Casey.
Spending time together doing enjoyable activities has drawn us closer. She loves to try new foods and snacks, and I also enjoy cooking, so we have found healthy recipes online to make together. She often feels accomplished, as her parents enjoy tasting our creative dishes. We do not always get the best results, but who would have thought that burnt apple chips would bring us together? My Saturdays feel incomplete without a dose of Casey. She has opened my heart and helped me to make invaluable connections.
Through my experience with Casey, I have realized that a person with Down’s syndrome or any developmental disability is special and unique in their own right. Her capacity to communicate her desires and needs in a distinctive way, her ability to experience joy in the small things, and her determination to succeed in all that she is passionate about are values that I have grown to appreciate. When William Osler addressed a group of medical students in New York about the importance of observing, hearing and connecting with patients, little did he know that decades later his words would profoundly impact a young Ghanaian woman like me with an aspiration to make a difference in the world of medicine.
Seeing, hearing, and connecting with Casey has given me a glimpse of who I want to be as a medical professional. I want to be a physician who not only acknowledges a patient’s health challenges but also sees, hears, and connects with patients beyond a first examination. Casey has shown me the benefits of taking the time to appreciate a person’s uniqueness.
Acknowledgements
This blog would not have come into fruition without the selfless effort and commitment of my dear Professor, Dr. Sylvia Hutchinson, Professor Emerita of Reading Education and Higher Education at University of Georgia. You have done an impeccable job in helping me to recognize the greatness in and around me. For all the house, phone and lunch/dinner meetings to make this post come to life, I say Thank you!
Thank you to Dr. Andy Albritton and Dr. Barbara Schuster for your valuable feedback and input that helped define the trajectory of my story.
My unique journey as a DSP would not be without Casey’s wonderful and loving parents who continually support and encourage all DSPs making our role so much more meaningful. Your impact is immeasurable!
Last but not least, to Dr. May and Mrs. Suzanne, I extend a heartfelt thank you for your 60+ combined years of expertise in writing that helped me effectively articulate my story.
[1] Name has been changed to protect privacy
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Annalisa was a pure delight with whom to work and share ideas. She is bright and hard-working and always ready to accept suggestions to improve her work. She is a joy to know and I anticipate these same qualities to serve her well in medical school. I will share this article with my pre med seminar students. Thank you for making the sharing possible.