Memories Rewind: A New Beginning

I just came through another major surgery at 14. I slowly walked the hallway of the hospital as I was trying to prepare myself to meet my new physical therapist. Up until this point, all of my physical therapists had been women, so I was nervous.

My feet were dragging as my mind was racing. "Would he be understanding? Is he patient? Would he be like a drill sergeant?" I wondered as I stopped in front of the room. There was no turning back now.

I eased my body into a chair in the waiting room. I decided to watch the minutes tick by on the clock on the wall. I was trying to think of something...anything to keep from going into panic mode. Tick, tick, tick. Before I knew it, it was my turn.

I was met by a young man named Dustin. "Are you ready to get started?" As I got up to leave, the receptionist said, "He won't kill you." I felt a little more at ease as a smile crept across my face. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all," I thought.

We discussed my medical history and did the evaluation that is required before you can start PT. He was a great listener, so that was a major plus in my book. I wasn't quite at the "let's be friends" stage, but I didn't hate him either. That was a step in the right direction.

Now, I have no reservations about him. We are both on the same page as far as my health is concerned. Yes, he challenges me, but he wouldn't be a good physical therapist if he didn't.

Have you ever dreaded something only to be pleasantly surprised at the outcome?