Dr. Rap

You are in a situation. It’s not only tough. It seems overwhelmingly impossible! Do you count the losses and get out? Do you count your blessings and stay? Do you dare take a another risk? Do you listen to yourself? Do you listen to your family? Do you listen to the haters? Do you listen to the critcis? Do you listen to your counselor? Do you talk yourself out of it? Do you talk yourself into it? Do you keep asking questions? Do you look behind to see what has been done? Do you look ahead to see what needs to be done? Do you justify? Do you rectify? Do you re-try? Do you lie…to yourself? Do you stop? Do you go? What do you do? And if you do, when should you?

No easy answers. But a 3-step “check up”…and you’re closer to your answer!

1) Measure twice and cut once. Haste will cause harm. Patience will help you see what’s really important. Health is more important than money.  Family is more important than work. And an extra toy will not bring you the happiness you wanted.  A loss can be a blessing and failures can lead to success.

2) I’d rather walk in God’s will in an unknown road, rather than walk out of His will in the known and be miserable. Don’t be scared to be bold.  Be brave. Look beyond your limitations. If you fail, try again. If you fall 7 times, get up 8 times. But remember, you must take the time to re-evaluate…especially if the truth, your conscience, your health, your walk with God, or close relationships are being compromised.

3) Go to the greatest source of information, knowledge and wisdom.  No sorry, it ain’t your favorite talk show host.  It’s the Bible.  Psalm 32:8 says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” That’s God talking to you! Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Hey bubs, people may know some things, but they don’t know all things.  Go to God. Go with God. Listen to God. Though we may be out of control and confused, He faithfully loves us and wants us to call unto Him.  If you don’t know what to say to Him, just scream, “HELP!!!!!”

Cheer up.  Onward and Upward. Today’s hardships can taint you; instead, let them mold you into a stronger and kinder human being.

Much love,

Dr. Rap

A friend wrote me today and said he needed some encouragement so he started reading my first book, “Playing on Your Last String.” He then asked, “What is your secret to keep a positive attitude about everything?”

I wrote back and encouraged him, and then stated, “As far as ’secrets’…there are many…”

First, be who you are and do not try to be anyone else.  You are yourself, and God has uniquely gifted you.  You will waste time, years, and your life trying to be someone else.

Second, make it your business to serve others, love others, give to others, and mind your own business…easier said than done.  One of my favorite verses from the Bible is found in Mark 10:45…Jesus said, “I did not come to this world to be served; I came to serve.”

Third, despite the pain, hardships, failures and betrayel…and there will be plenty (just ask me about my scars)…strive to go onward and upward. I love what King David said in Psalm 121…”I life UP my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heavens and earth.  He will not let your foot slip; He who watches over you will not sleep nor slumber.”

Well, this is just the beginning of the “secrets.” Hold on my friend.  Rise above. Sing songs of praise.  Give of yourself. And the THINGS of this world will seem to grow dim as your heart grows bold and strong.

Your pal, Dr. Rap

Was in Room 361 today.  Went in to see my patient who was being treated for a pulmonary emboli (clot in the lungs).  The clot had started out in her leg viens and marched itself to the right side of the heart and then into the lungs. If big enough, the clot can kill.  But this was just big enough to place my 82 year old patient on her back.  She looked good today. She smiled for the first time and said she wanted to check out. “You mean go home?” I asked.  “Yeah, my permanent home, but I don’t want to talk about it, doctor” I didn’t want to push her any further.  There are times when I speak up and times I know my patients want their privacy.  I encouraged her and told her she had improved greatly; she agreed. As I placed my stethescope on her chest, I looked down and saw her hands. The muscles of her hands were atrophied (wasted away), and areas of ruptured capillaries painted her hands in dark red blotches. Arthritis had marked its territory and twisted her hand joints in an unimaginable fashion.  There was a slight tremor, and some of her fingernails were covered with dry blood.  I made certain adjustments on her medications, and told her I’ll see her later.  “I doubt it Dr. K,” she said, “I’m checking out of this place.” I smiled and held her frail hands, and wished her good health.

My patient’s hands…they reminded me of what was to be.  It reminded me that my patient and I are just a mist.  We appear for a little while and then vanish.  The strong hands become weak.  The mighty grip becomes frail.  And the powerful hold becomes lame. 

 So I write to you…a message of encouragement.  Whatever you were thinking about putting off, reevaluate and tackle it today.  Your time on earth is so precious.  Don’t waste it.  Don’t throw it away.  You have a dream? A goal? A vision? A calling? Then pursue it and gulp down a double dose of perserverance.  I can write all day, but I think King Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 9:10…Whatever your HAND finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. 

 It’s your time.  It’s your turn.  It’s is now.  Get up. Go. Pursue. Persevere.  And Rock your Planet.

Warm hand shakes and warm wishes from the Mender of Hearts, Dr. Rap

I was sleeping soundly this morning, Wednesday 4/16/08, and it was 2:30 AM.  My pager went off.  Turned on the lights and scrambled to get my glasses on.  The pager message said that my partner wanted to talk to me, and this meant only one thing.  There must be a patient who was having a heart attack and my partner wants me to go in.  I called and sure enough there was a patient, whom we’ll call Mr. D, was having a heart attack.  A heart attack in my world is called a myocardial infarction.  That’s like a major plumbing problem of the heart, or a nasty traffic jam on the freeway.  The blood that flows thorugh the artery or a pipe gets blocked and the muscle downstream starvs, begging for more oxygen.  If the vessel is not opened in the next ninty minutes, the golden window, the muscle downstream will likely die.  Got up, washed my face, got on my scrubs and Nike’s and left the house. Drove 20 miles in the dark night and got to the hospital. Went straight to the cardiac catherterization lab (cath lab), where they usually have our patient prepped and ready for me.  No one in the place!  Went up to the emergency room (ER), said hi to all the good peoples, and went and spoke with my patient.  He was cold and clamy and was in trouble.  Looking at the EKG, I knew that his right coronary artery was 100% blocked.  As is common, when one has a plumbling problem, an electrical issue can occur.  His electral unit was hurting and he needed a temporary pacemaker. 

I explained to him how critical his situation was, and he constented to have the procedure.  We were ready to roll, and the patient yelled, “Wait”!! ”What is it Mr. D?” I asked.  “I don’t want to go,” he shouted.  We spoke for more than 30 minutes.  It was now 3:30 and my cath lab crew was waiting, wondering what was taking us so long in the ER. The patient wanted more information. He questioned the procedure, questioned my abilities, questioned the hospitals credentials and then said, “I’m not going.”  I explained to him that the consequences are grave.  He said, “I may live to regret this, but I’m not going.”  His wife was pleading with him, begging him to go.  “You’re making the wrong choice, honey. Honey please!!” she cried. He said no. And no it was.  After speaking with the physicians involved, I got back into my car to head home. 

“I may live to regret this..” he had said.  I guess it’s so simple for me, having done thousands of these cases.  I believe it was so very foreign to Mr. D.  I felt so bad for him and the damage he was to cause.  I felt so helpless as our patient simply refused. Declined. Rejected. He was transferred to the ICU, to be treated with aggressive medical management because of his adament stance.

“I may live to regret this…”  That’s what my patient said.  After hearing the risks, benefits, alternatives and consequences.  Was it fear? Probably.  His fear of the procedure may have been greater than the fear of death.  Was it deniel? Stubborness? Don’t know. I do know it was the wrong choice, given his alternatives.

What decisions are you making today? In school? At home? On the road? With your family? Away from your family? Alone? Or with friends? Who are your counselors? Who is helping you? Who are you turning to?

As the Mender of Hearts, I want to encourage you to make the right choices…because the choice you make will have a tremendous impact in your and your family’s life…even if you don’t see it today!! Remember, bad company corrupts good character; choice the right friends.  Remember to build your house on Solid Ground, and not the sand, cuz’ when the wind blows, the house build on the sand will fall. Remember, if you are planning to wage war or pursue a new opportunity…get counselors to come along side and help guide you.  Know that the Bible is a lamp unto you feet and a light unto your path.  And remember to always pray hard, as our understanding may be an educated guess, but the good Lord above has wisdom beyond measure. 

I am inviting you to live life with NO REGRETS!!

My best to you from my heart, Dr. Rap

By God’s grace, I am known as the Mender of Hearts, healing hearts physically and touching souls with love, truth and encouragement.  Welcome to “Blog with Dr. Rap”.  Get ready baby, we is here to heal hearts, touch souls, and rock this very planet!!

Dr. Rap