Healthcare is a pain in the neck. Friends and relatives tell me how routine golf, tennis and bridge games in retirement are now interrupted by the frequent doctors’ visits. A new addition to “social life” calendars starts to creep in until there are weekly events stealing your valuable time. It’s the biggest complaint I get from patients about the need for daily radiation for 6 weeks. It seems unbearable.

Eventually everyone gets into the new routine and adjusts but I am acutely aware they all would rather be elsewhere. Crystal is coming for another lung lesion (this is her third in as many years) from breast cancer- she will do well again and she tries to not identify as chronic patient. Marvin is dismayed that the ubiquitous bladder cancer found in many octogenarians interrupts his golf game, literally, and also on treatment weeks. Paul is handing over his deacon responsibilities while being treated for a neck cancer since his voice is too hoarse for the pulpit. Frankly this work of staying well and fighting for life is annoying.

But then you turn on the news and see how up to 50,000 people have perished in just a few hours in the massive earthquake in Turkey with destruction the equivalent of 300 Hydrogen bombs. How the rescuers are still finding babies and even families alive and risking their own lives for the effort. You appreciate all that we will do- for ourselves, our families and even for strangers to aid survival. Any inconvenience is worth the effort.

So today, let’s honor the efforts abroad, home and personally. When you drive a friend to an appointment, when you wait together with someone in the ER for hours, make the small effort to learn CPR so that you can save a loved one, reach out to chat with a patient traveling this journey alone, you deliver to them your heart and your hope. You don’t have to clear the rubble, or fight in the war, or risk your own well being. You can just help those who are losing their own patience and fortitude. When you show up at the door, their hearts leap that someone cares about them enough to extend themselves. That impact is tremendous. Never doubt.

As so, as you are elevated by your altruism to help others, I would like to offer a word of thanks on their behalf. You have demonstrated that they are still worthy of support. There is not one other thing that you can do that is more valuable than giving of yourself to demonstrate that every single life is precious and worth the effort.