STAY WELL & SPARKLE – Better Birthdays

Dr. Sam Christian
Dr. Sam Christian

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you!….

(Come on; anyone else knows the words to this tune? Well don’t just sit there; join in – otherwise it might start raining!) 

Happy birthday dear ____(your name)

Happy birthdaaaay to you!

(This song is brought to you with the kind compliments of your dedicated health care worker. Nurse, doctor or allied professional, wherever they practice, it is their sworn duty to bring you better birthdays).

BTW, there’s a next verse, you know. For some people, it’s like: don’t even go there! In case you may have forgotten, it goes something like this, ‘Tell us how old are you.’ Ronald Reagan was frequently lambasted for being too doddering and senile for White House responsibilities. He shot back that he was indeed better qualified because he had more life experience. The year he was elected 40th President of the United States, he was fond of saying, “This is the 30 anniversary of my 39th birthday!”

On a whole, North Americans tend to be rather spastic about age. On one hand, many a lady gets all huffy if asked ‘the question’ in social settings. “I’m 39 and holding” is all you might get. Or, perhaps a more dismissive, “Let’s just say I’m old enough to be your mother.” On the other hand, it never fails to amuse me how a well-grown woman giggles like a schoolgirl when a bouncer or store clerk kiddingly ‘cards’ her (demands I.D. proof that she is of age for alcohol). I guess that’s why Robert Frost declared, “For a happy home, always remember a woman’s birthday, but never remember her age.”

Hiding the ticking clock

For my part, I gave up Just for Men (hair dye) long ago. How silly it looks when emerging grey roots exposes one’s refusal to ‘gracefully surrender the things of youth!’ The choice is clear: Vainly using expensive, harsh chemicals to look younger vs. claiming every single grey as a trophy for making it thus far. I earned it!

Males, it would appear, are more often afflicted with rebellion against the tyranny of birthday obligations. As a teenager, I was adamant that folks made too much fuss over birthdays. What on earth did they do to deserve all this attention, I argued. Think God does not have a sense of humour? So why did He give me a wife who, like clockwork would send out not just one, but TWO birthday cards – one funny and one sentimental? June’s mind is like a steel trap when it comes to remembering birthdays and anniversaries. It must be an x-chromosome kind of thing why half of humanity has such discipline in double measure. In any case, you can call me this, or you can call me that, but just don’t call me late for cake & ice cream!

So, listen. When is YOUR birthday in 2014? Same like last year? Good answer! People have different attitudes to birthdays. My baby brother Gaibu has his on New Year’s Day. Those late December / early January birthdays are easier to remember. Yet folks are often too preoccupied and exhausted with the holidays to bestow upon them separate gifts. Having all kinds of clever computer and smartphone apps for tracking birthdays does not automatically translate into making that extra effort to reach out.

In the past, few churches regularly observed the occasion. Nowadays, those who do not forsake the assembly can count on such serenade at least once a year. There was a poor simple lady in a church I attended. She was a patient for only one visit, yet her birthday card was among the first I would receive year after year. I later found out she made it a personal ministry sending out cards and notes of encouragement to as many people as she could. Laying up treasures in heaven, some might say.

Heartfelt celebration

The Support Group Arm of Dominica Cancer society also gives quite the big-up on birthdays. We were privileged to partake in their fourth-quarter birthday bash at the PSU on Boxing Day. What a banquet it was! A lavish potluck dinner was topped up with recognition of those who laboured hard in visitation and organizing, personal stories of overcoming followed by spirited singing and dancing. Proceeds from year-long fundraising efforts are directed to financing local chemo and overseas radiation therapy for the many patients who otherwise could not afford.

A national health insurance program like in the other islands is an idea whose time has come for Dominica. Meanwhile the Cancer Society’s agenda is packed with a variety of projects including the Cancer Walk, Candlelight Service and even planning the ‘Yes We Care’ cruise this year. President Kathleen Cornelius is a strong, passionate and dynamic woman. In fact, so is the entire executive, including coordinator of the highly motivated youth arm, Amner Abraham. This is by far one of the best run, most vibrant organization of any kind on island. No doubt their secret, in large measure, is tied to celebrating each new birthday as a precious victory to be savoured to the fullest.

I had gotten into the habit of sending out weekly batches of birthday cards to my patients. Actually, my secretary did. Truth be told, these were just generic, bulk-printed, marketing-type postcards. After a while, she would routinely sign or sometimes only office-stamp them without any knowledge or input on my part. Frankly, there were times when I was sorely tempted to discard the practice to save time and money. That was until apparent strangers would hail me in public from time to time. Even as I struggled to place them, they would clasp my hand warmly, look me in the eye and say something like, “Thanks Doc. Your birthday card was the only one I got this year.”

Wow! You better believe I did some ‘recalculating.’ If age is indeed just a number, how do we find practical meaning? Could there be someone for whom it would mean the world just to hear from YOU – not because you have to, but just because you care. Life is like a vapour. It therefore behooves all of us to do whatever we can to make someone’s 2014 birthday one of their very best ever.

Dr. Sam Christian is surgeon who runs the Urgent Care on 137 Bath Road. It offers general medical care, office surgery, acupuncture and microdermabrasion. He is Medical Adviser to the Dominica Cancer Society and author of the faith and fitness nutrition book, ‘Mannafast Miracle.’ Dr. Christian can be reached at 440-9133 or by writing to [email protected].

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9 Comments

  1. FemmeDominique
    January 14, 2014

    Thanks Francisco Telemaque. I appreciate your comments and what you have written is so true. I am still smiling. Trust me, I know almost everything abut HBP. I am 100% in agreement with you. We should not self-diagnose or diagnose others. Let the health care professionals do their job. We have to listen to them, pray, watch our diet, exercise and pay attention to our bodies.

  2. Just saying
    January 13, 2014

    When I was younger i didn`t know what it was to celebrate birthdays. Then I became a teenager , I started hearing my classmate talking about their birthday like it was some great thing.When I started working i began celebrating that day and I made sure i celebrate my kids own so they could appreciate and give thanks to God for bringing them into this world. But Doc now that I am reaching 40 I am wondering how happy that birthday will. Don`t get me wrong I am so grateful to God for sparing my life thus far but i must admit their is a little fear.However to those celebrating their birthday happily and the new year may God bless you all !

  3. You Got That Right!
    January 13, 2014

    When you are a survivor, every birthday is a victory!

    What I find strange is there are people with cancer, or who have loved ones with cancer, who don’t support the society’s activities. But whenever they need assistance, they are first in line.

    Dominicans have to change. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and not see everything as a handout. The success of the society depends on all of us. Thank you Doctor for promoting the work of the Dominica Cancer Society.

  4. FemmeDominique
    January 12, 2014

    Thanks Doc for your article. You bring the humanity to being a doctor. Yes every birthday is special. Thank God for life which is a very precious gift. Every year counts. Doc, in my opinion, you look younger in this picture, forget “Just for Men” hair color.

  5. Erasmus B. Black
    January 11, 2014

    This gave me a chuckle:”For my part I gave up Just for Men (hair dye) long age.” The standing joke at my work place is the octogenarian board member with nary a discernible grey hair.

    We learned in “Caribbean Readers” in primary school that the Spanish Conquistador Ponce de Leon was in search of the magical “Fountain of Youth” when he travelled to Florida. To this day, Florida continues to capitalize on that legend while the Fountain of Youth continues to be a metaphor for anything that prolongs youth and longevity. Everyday we are bombarded with anti-aging ads on television that tell us how to get rid of every wrinkle or grey hair so that we won’t look too old. When I was a teenager 40 sounded like a fat old age. Thankfully, I don’t feel this way anymore. As the Psalmist David in Psalms 90 exhorts us, “Teach us Lord to number our days so we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” And numbering our days, in my opinion, includes taking stock of and being appreciative for every birthday. May we live well and enjoy our birthdays in 2014!

  6. Francisco Telemaque
    January 11, 2014

    “That was until apparent strangers would hail me in public from time to time. Even as I struggled to place them, they would clasp my hand warmly, look me in the eye and say something like, “Thanks Doc.”

    Doc, I have very little to say today; I have no real contribution to offer, except to say you are informing the Dominica public, and our so called medical professionals what type of personality they should maintain as far as patients Doctor relationship is concerned.

    Gone are the days when doctors walked around with their nose up in the air, gone are the days when doctors would simply say to a patient, go home and take this; if the patient dare asks the doctor, what’s wrong with them, or what this medication will do, our past foreign, and Dominica doctors would simply ignore the patient, and give no answer.

    I remember one time when I was a kid in Dominica, a doctor took my blood pressure, and his impression was, eh hm, hm, hm, so I ask the man good or bad, though I had very little clue of what I was asking him, he exclaimed ; well it good, so I ask how do you know when it is good, the man told me when it is like yours!

    Later in life I came to realize maybe he did not know what was talking about: We know the scientifically and medically acceptable is 120/80, these days we accept the systolic at 130/80. However, that is not the norm for most people. In my case I live with low blood pressure, that does not mean I suffer from hypotension, yesterday my systolic read 90, and the diastolic 54: 90/54 knowing what to do, and I am not going say what I did so that anybody reading me will get to play doctor and kill themselves.

    Note: Low blood pressure does no mean instant death, if anything it could help someone living longer, it is important not to allow diastolic to drop below 40 inches of mercury.

    I did something which brought it back to normal, within thirty twenty-five – thirty min.. I have a daughter who maintains between 90-109/70, she functions quite normal, no weakness, no disorientation. I any event doc, I am happy you are proving to our people, that doctors are just as human as everyone else, you remind me of my friend and colleague Dr. Provost.

    Apart from singing happy birth day to patents in some hospitals in California, patients are subjected to morning prayer, some doctors these days will not operate until they indulged in prayer. You are a great teacher, and physician Sam; keep it going!

    Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • FemmeDominique
      January 12, 2014

      :-D
      Eh hem. Great job on your comment. Thank God your pressure is good. You cannot tell us the secret eh? Too funny, we might kill ourselves. I’m LOL. :lol:

      • Francisco Telemaque
        January 13, 2014

        Dominique, although, I majored in Health Science, and knows plenty about medicine, I am not a practicing medical doctor, I do not have a medical degree, hence I know it would be highly unethical for me to disclosed certain medical information relating to treatment.

        Some information should only come from a medical doctor.

        Here is an example, if you go to a hospital lab, to have an X-Ray, or an EKG done, and the technician who does the test, review it, and give you information regarding the test, he/she would be in violation of the medical protocol, since it is not his/her job to inform the patient of anything significant found, or not found.

        I mean what if the technician tells you something, and when you return to the doctor he/she has a different opinion for you!

        I suppose a state of confusion would be existing right?

        Well, I am a man who talk lots of things, however, even though what I say might be correct 99.999999% of the time, I know when to limited, and not disclosed certain things; what if I inform someone how to elevate their blood pressure, and the next thing you know they went contrary to what they read and elevate their blood pressure it to a point where they cause it to rupture their internal organs.

        To high of Blood pressure can rupture a persons systemic artery, which arises blood from the left ventricle of the heart, and also cause the esophagus (one’s throat to rupture also). I will not tell you how to treat it yourself, however though they say there are no symptoms, I will inform you; if for any reason you feel weak, and disoriented, even having a slight headache or you go into the sun and the glare of the sun seems to be obstructing your vision, the time might be right to go to the hospital emergency, or ensure a visit with some doctor, because that may be a symptom of high blood pressure.

        If you are living with no symptoms however, when one urinates a white substance, slightly thick is in the urine, high blood pressure may have already destroyed one or both of the kidney’s, in some case depending on how severe, the condition can be treated and in some case reversed, otherwise dialysis will be the only alternative, if not an kidney transplant.

        I advice that there should be a blood pressure monitor in every home, if one can monitor themselves, it will help to prevent the horrible effects such as damage heart, and the destruction of one’s Kidneys, and other internal organs, however for certain the heart and kidney’s.

        Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque

    • Crabfest
      January 12, 2014

      So much for having very little to say. I can wait for the day when you have much to say, and i will.

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