Psalm 121 and Of Course, I Love My Doctor

On Saturday, John and I saw my doctor for my monthly check-up. (There was no wait.) He took lots of time for my questions and for working out explanations and coordinating medicine and near-future tests (like a CT scan in December). He said, since Tuesday is my last scheduled chemotherapy (#9), that my next check-up with him will not be until December. We will skip October and November.

At the end of my questions, I pulled out my phone for a little mystery story. Last month, when I had not yet uncovered my clock radio from its box, I had just set my phone for 6:30 a.m., before my 8:00 a.m. chemotherapy (#8). In the morning the phone went off, and I turned it off. But then I realized it was five minutes early. Then I realized it was not my alarm, but the phone itself. I wondered, "Who would be calling me before 6:30 in the morning?" I let it go, figuring if it was important, the person would call back. If not, it was probably a wrong number.

But finally, one day, I did a reverse look-up on the computer. To my surprise, the number was my doctor's home phone number! So at my appointment, I said I had a comic-relief story, and I showed him my phone (and think I said I was sorry for hanging up on him). He smiled when he saw his number, and explained that he likes to have all his patients' information lined up in the mornings before patients have chemotherapy, and he could not immediately find a piece of mine. I guess he found it. But the story told me something interesting about my doctor.

What commitment. My doctor was already up before 6:30 a.m. - before I was - checking my treatment plan and that all my test results were in and that everything was ready for me. And if he did not see what he needed, he would do whatever he needed to get it.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121