“Doctor, can I please give you a hug?” “Yes, please!” I happily responded, and my patient jumped up from the exam chair, and hugged me in appreciation for vision regained after her recent corneal transplant. (This, of course, after we reassured each other about our vaccination status.)

Another patient shared how she cannot wait for the time when she won’t need to wear a mask anymore, so that she can showcase her constant ear-to-ear smile since receiving her ICL implants.

Other patients are finally rescheduling surgeries previously cancelled due to fear of COVID-19, and are returning with a heightened appreciation for the care and commitment we offer our patients.

Bright days are, indeed, ahead, and a return to life as we knew it (with some minor modifications) is right around the corner.

Well Prepared

When COVID-19 forced us into a sense of uncertainty, not knowing what new challenges were ahead, and whether we would be able to go back to life as it was, I could not help but to relate it to experiences I endured during my childhood.

I spent my early teen years in Iran during the revolution, and amidst the Iran-Iraq War. I remember a daily sense of uncertainty, as to what lay ahead, and whether tomorrow would even be. But looking back on that time, I carry with me a sense of gratitude for personal and emotional growth beyond anything I could have experienced had I not been forced to endure hardships. Specifically, I owe much of my resilience, that has served me well as an adult, to the dark nights spent in bomb shelters, and being witness to the strength of spirit and commitment to seeing it through the adults around me.

A Silver Lining

This time the enemy we were fighting was invisible to us, aerosolized with every cough heard from miles away and, presumably, on any surface touched.

Overnight, we had to put up barriers to shelter ourselves, and our loved ones. Our basic and habitual behaviors had to change.

The most tangible change for many was the drastic shift in the way we would connect with each other. For me, during those first few weeks, it was a real struggle connecting with patients when I could not give a nice, confident handshake, or show warmth through a visible smile upon initial introductions. Soon, I learned the elbow bump, the welcome tilt in the head, and to “smile” with my eyes. Resilience yet again showed us the way. We found new patterns of behavior, and new ways of connecting. We even found some surprising ways of connecting that expanded our reach, and put us in closer touch with those in the distance. This and many other silver linings will undoubtedly have staying power even as restrictions are being lifted.

No doubt, we will remember this time with great sorrow (especially for the many lives lost). I also know that if we open our minds to the lessons learned, and the brightness of the days ahead, we will gain great strength in knowing that we have not only persevered, but have acquired a greater appreciation for the daily life experiences we took for granted. I, personally, am looking forward to the return to the gift of appreciation my patients give me in their thankful handshakes, warm hugs, and their smiles soon to be uncovered from under the mask, as they enjoy the vision regained from a successful surgery. CP

 

DR. SHAMIE is a partner of the Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute in Los Angeles, and an educator and international lecturer. In 2017, she received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Senior Achievement Award for contributions to the education of other eye surgeons.