tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173095375385680490.post7938966439114442840..comments2023-08-04T01:58:44.111-07:00Comments on End of Life - thoughts from an MD: Viva Puerto VillartaJim deMaine, MDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305598245850297381noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173095375385680490.post-10904360018193855172010-03-09T20:15:36.556-08:002010-03-09T20:15:36.556-08:00Another story and patient I remember, one of the s...Another story and patient I remember, one of the successes for sure. And quite the unexpected ending!<br />They do happen sometimes.Sylvia Cook Photographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11660752459134380700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173095375385680490.post-1371443473142160062010-01-20T18:15:22.303-08:002010-01-20T18:15:22.303-08:00Dear Dr. deMaine,
I'm a cellist who happens t...Dear Dr. deMaine,<br /><br />I'm a cellist who happens to be a deMaine. I believe we have even met in person. We are very likely distant cousins.<br /><br />This is a very uplifting story indeed. In my experience with friends and family with serious illnesses and/or injuries, my loved ones and I have not generally been as fortunate to have favorable outcomes, with one notable exception; my sister, who was in a horrific car accident and comatose for two months, during which period I played for her for hours, not knowing if I was reaching her. Since it was the one thing that we shared quite intimately (she was my first teacher), I figured it was the most logical route to try and jar something loose. Weeks later, she quite suddenly came out of her shell. We were amazed. Nobody expected her to make it, but somehow she pulled through; but it was a hard road with much physical and occupational therapy over the ensuing 2 years. A dental hygienist by profession (having gone through undergraduate and graduate school on a music scholarship), she returned to her old friend. I remember her calling me, in tears, trying desperately to learn her scales and arpeggios all over again, wailing that she just could not do it, and was devastatingly discouraged. I told her that "Carnegie Hall can wait; just take it 5 minutes at a time for now and be patient." She is now not only as accomplished as she was, she is an even better instrumentalist than she was, and there is also no indication that she ever suffered the multiple traumatic brain injuries from which no doctor thought she would ever recover. She has also returned to work as a hygienist. Truly a miracle, in my estimation.<br /><br />Of course, I'd love to believe that the cello was the "magic bullet," but one can never know.<br /><br />Just wanted to share my story with you. You have a terrific blog which will provide comfort for many.<br /><br />I hope to see you in Seattle sometime, perhaps during the Seattle Chamber Music Festival. All the best to you.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />RobertRobert deMainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10822179267613844367noreply@blogger.com