Some moments in patient care defy logic.

I was visiting a quadriplegic patient with end-stage dementia in a care home. She hadn't spoken or communicated in any way that the staff was aware of in over 2 years. I was alone in her room, checking her vitals, talking softly about her family—wishing out loud that she could be with them soon.

As I turned away to jot down notes, I heard it.

Clear as day.

"I want to go home."

I spun around. It was just the two of us.

I was stunned. I couldn't believe my own senses. I still don't know how to explain it.

I sat in my car afterward and broke down.

Healthcare is full of experiences we can't measure or chart. Sometimes, the science we rely on collides with something deeper—something we can only feel. The connection we have to our patients is more than the medical care we provide, it's the humanity we share in the quiet moments nobody sees.

Have you ever had a moment like that?

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