I made someone’s day the other day. He was a semi-retired doctor visiting my place of work that got to officially meet his first zebra. I think it ended up being a meaningful conversation for both of us in the end.
How We Got to Talking About Zebras
With the normal progression of how I talk to visitors this nice gentleman started talking about his clinic work. He still worked often and traveled to places like schools and industrial areas to deliver care because he loved what he was doing. It was always a new adventure, new circumstances. I had laughed that I keep all my doctors on my toes because I’m a zebra.
He paused and gave me a scrutinizing look. “You’re a zebra?” His look wasn’t unkind, but it was critical. “Yep! I am! Never a dull moment!” He asked what kind of zebra I was, still in a slightly skeptical tone. So I told him, I’ve got Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. He looked at me, blinked a few times, and asked if I was serious. I chuckled and said yes, type 3, so… We said “hypermobile” at the same time.
It all was fun after that.
Sharing Ring Splint Experiences
During our earlier conversation, he had expressed his appreciation for my desire to constantly learn new skills and information. So, in the spirit of sharing possibly new information to him, I showed him my silver ring splints.
To be honest, I think he was about excited hearing about them as I was when I was given my first one. He was full of questions and it was a pleasure talking to him. What were they made out of? How long have I had them? Have I noticed an improvement? Do they make them in other metals? Did I know what company made them? Was it through Occupational Therapy? Do they make ones for the other joints? How long have I had finger joint issues? Do I plan to get other ones? With a lot of “That’s just brilliant!” thrown around.
I look one off so he could look at it and he was just so happy, like a kid at Christmas. It wasn’t only the rings themselves that he was excited over, it was the fact that they’re making a necessary medical splint as attractive as they are functional. He spoke about his views on the mental health benefit of attractive mobility aids. As if in a 90’s sitcom, another lady comes to my area and comments just how gorgeous my rings are and where did I get them. He smiled and said that was exactly what he was talking about. She didn’t ask “Oh, what’s wrong? What happened?”, she just gave a nice compliment.
Talking Medical Details
In his excitement, he started to ask about the more down and dirty details of my particular collection of hEDS symptoms. He quickly apologized, and said it wasn’t any of his business but I assured him I don’t mind at all. And though I have my days when I’m tired and irritated, that’s generally true. I like talking about it because I love helping people understand the uncommon.
When did I start showing symptoms? Did my pediatrician notice? When was I diagnosed? What co-morbid diseases do I have? Have there been any advancements? Who all do I have to see currently?
We even talked about the polyester ligament that I just got in my right ankle and how wonderful an advancement in medicine it is. He asked that I please pardon his questions, but in his 50 years of medicine, he’s never met someone like me. Read about them in medical texts, sure. But met one? And today he actually gets to meet a zebra!
The Shock of Meeting a Zebra Hits
They call us zebras because we’re not like your average patient. We deal with a near constant barrage of issues and complications. And though the conversation up to this point was full of light hearted discussion, he had stopped suddenly and looked at me with an expression of sympathy. He said he wanted to apologize. That all this time, we had been talking about the clinical side and I had been discussing all of this with a smiling face and chipper attitude. We were talking about some of the most painful aspects of daily life, and I was smiling and happily sharing.
He slowly changed from sympathy to a mix of surprise and concern. He said then that he wanted to thank me for sharing, but to let me know how deeply impressed he was with how I was handling my life in general. How admirable it was, because being a doctor, he has an idea of just how much I’ve had to deal with for so long. That for me to retain such a positive outlook on life through that all of that…was amazing.
Now, I don’t share because I want sympathy or congratulations. I share to educate. But that doesn’t take away from how nice it can be for someone like this gentleman, to be able to relate on some level and acknowledge just how much I’ve accomplished despite having such hurdles in my way. Especially because there have been several hurdles during this time of healing from the surgery that have been particularly trying.
So at the end, I made his day by letting him get to know a zebra, and he made mine by just appreciating me and my story.
