Thanksgiving Medicine

There are many types of medicines and people can argue which one is the most effective. My father has been in the hospital since Tuesday evening. As people age, their bodies breakdown and treatment decisions need to be considered from a different angle. The wonderful team of doctors were all gathered together discussing what to do. There was talk of scans, scopes and probes. I stood there listening and when they asked for my input I gave it to them. I said that the best medicine for a 96 year old man is to have him seated at my Thanksgiving table eating dinner with his family. The lead doctor looked at me with the biggest smile and said I was "right on the money". He said that he could not advise me to do that as a doctor, but it is what he would do as a son. From that moment on, the entire medical team began to set up his discharge for this morning. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will be home by noon and enjoying a wonderful meal with the people who love him the most. Medicines are not only formulations of chemicals. They also include love.