You never know what a seemingly innocent act of kindness will do when it reverberates and travels through a person’s life.

I received this lovely letter from a listener that I read on the air because of its message that reflects a caring for the well-being of others. I have kept this anonymous and have received permission from the writer to post it.

From:
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2024 11:31 AM
To: Barry Dworkin
Subject: Thank you.

Dear Dr. Dworkin;

You were kind enough to take a few minutes twenty years ago, to call me  with an answer to a question I had written to you about. I had explained that the most frightened look I had ever seen on anyone, was the look of sudden fear that was on my husband’s face when he sat bolt upright in bed, in the wee hours of the morning. He died a few hours later, after being unconscious. He had lung cancer.

Your gentle explanation to me about whether he suffered great pain during those minutes of sheer fright, helped me so much, and I just want to thank you once more. But today, I just wanted to tell you something that I know you have told your Patients, but perhaps another reminder to your radio  listeners might save even more lives. By the way, I too am one of your listeners and enjoy all the various questions that are asked of you!  

I think there are many people out there that either ignore their various body signals, or have never been told to……listen to your body!  

I am so glad that I have and continue to listen to mine, and I just wanted to tell you what happened or luckily, didn’t happen!

Three years ago, I was really lacking in energy, and drifting off to sleep in the middle of the day. One day I was studying the inside of my lower eyelids and was shocked to see they were white, not pink. Not too long after that, I went to my Doctor and asked him to show me his  which were a healthy pink. I showed him mine and he instantly said that I was anemic , and referred me to a Hematologist  at the Queensway.

Monthly transfusions began and I did start to slowly get some energy back, but noticed I was losing weight.

On one of the transfusion days, the Hematologist took me aside and said that she would like to have a couple of tests done on me. Very soon I was booked in for an Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy .

Two or three days later, the Doctor that performed those tests, called me and told me that I had cancer of the 

esophagus. The tumour was removed, it was a stage 2, and I have had endoscopies yearly for follow ups. 

They want to do one more in the new year, and if all is well, it will be the last follow up.

I apologize for rambling on so, but I tell anyone that will listen, that if I hadn’t gone to my Doctor complaining how tired I was, I would perhaps never have known that I was walking around with a deadly THING growing in my body, because there were no problems that I was aware of, no pain!

I hope I haven’t bored you too much, and once again, I truly enjoy your show. You have solved so many concerns for many of your listeners.

In the new year, I will celebrate my 87th., birthday, and I will continue listening to my body!

Thanks once again Dr. Dworkin

Sincerely,

Name withheld

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