This ain’t no dress rehersal !
I saw a patient recently for evaluation of arthritis. He was 96 years old. He moved slower than the character portrayed by Tim Conway in the old Carol Burnett Show. He grimaced in pain with each step he took. He climbed up on the exam table after refusing assistance. I completed my exam and prescribed a treatment.
I instinctively grabbed his arm to help him off the table and at the same time told him that he needed to take it easy.
He grabbed my arm with his hand and squeezed with all of his strength. He pulled my face level with his and looked me square in the eye.
As he had my complete attention at this point, he spoke a sentence that will stay with me for the rest of my life:
” Take it easy? Doc, this ain’t no dress rehearsal. I ain’t getting this one back so I’m going for it with all I got”.
Needless to say, my attitude toward the rest of the day and the rest of my life changed after this visit.
Nicholas J. Messina III, M.D.
