Monday was the day. My annual check up at the cardiologist. My appointment was scheduled for 9am at Entabeni Hospital in Durban. My family and I currently live in waterfall, so it’s not just a down the road convenient appointment. I had to ensure I left home in time to find a parking and to be punctual for my appointment. I also had to arrange with my daughter if she would like to join me for the consultation or rather not. She chose the latter this time round so I needed to arrange a play date or babysitting for her. She opted for a play date and so I organized for her to be with a friend.
There are so many thoughts and emotions and memories that often flood my heart and mind as I make this routine trip to the doctor. This time, however there was not a barrage of them, but a subtle gratitude that filled my heart. Last year, in a state of burn out and anxiety, I unexpectedly landed up in my doctors rooms in August due to a panic attack which outworked itself by me experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath. It was scary. It was exhausting. It was overwhelming. This year there was no panic. This year there was no rush. This year it was just the routine. This year there was gratitude.
I dropped Cianna off at her (and my) friends home and calmly drove the rest of the journey down to Durban. I quickly and easily found a parking and with gratitude enveloping me walked through the hospital down to the medical centre at the back and into the empty waiting room. 10 minutes early. I sat down and immediately took out my book. After 25 minutes, the receptionist called out to me that my doctor had been called to an emergency and is heading to theatre. He indicated to her that he would be done by 10:15am. I glanced at my watch. 9:15am. An hour to wait. I juggled a few thoughts of what to do, messaged my husband and friend who had Cianna, then made myself even more comfortable in the rather stiff waiting room chair and immersed myself into my book. The next time I looked at the time it was 9:55am. I decided to take a walk to the coffee shop and to my surprise and delight found samoosas for sale. I ordered a latte and 2 samoosas and within a few minutes was back in the waiting room, this time with some company. I enjoyed every morsel of the samoosas and slowly sipped my coffee whilst continuing to read my book.
Eventually at 10:30am (an hour and a half after my appointment was scheduled for) I followed the doc into his consulting rooms. 20 minutes later I was back in my car heading towards Westville with the good news that my heart is good to go for another year. Praise the Lord!
As I was driving out of the hospital, I was swamped with a few thoughts of gratitude and want to share them with you:
I was able to drive myself to my appointment.
I packed my book (and Bible actually) so had plenty to keep me company while I had to wait for an unexpected delayed appointment.
I so thoughtlessly walked to the coffee shop and purchased some refreshments.
Cianna was happy and didn’t have to wait that whole time with me.
There was no panic, urgency or rush to this appointment. Just the routine.
I came out with a clean bill of health and ready to start my new job next week!
Gratitude sometimes needs to be looked for, scratched up and uncovered, but when it’s found, the smile it produces, the delight it rains down and the joy it instills are priceless. So it’s gratitude for the win and I’m grateful it was!
hope of heart 