When I was struggling with cancer a few years ago, my wife and I formed our own "couple caution circle".
When
I
was
struggling
with
cancer
a
few
years
ago
,
my
wife
and
I
formed
our
own
``
couple
caution
circle
''
.
Anytime a doctor came with news of my progress, my wife would give me a big hug.
Anytime
a
doctor
came
with
news
of
my
progress
,
my
wife
would
give
me
a
big
hug
.
The reports were seldom good during the early stages of my illness, and one day a doctor brought particularly frightening news.
The
reports
were
seldom
good
during
the
early
stages
of
my
illness
,
and
one
day
a
doctor
brought
particularly
frightening
news
.
Staring at my reports, he said in a low voice, "It doesn't look like you're going to make it."
Staring
at
my
reports
,
he
said
in
a
low
voice
,
``
It
does
n't
look
like
you
're
going
to
make
it
.
''
Before I could ask him a question, my wife stood up, handed me my clothes, adjusted the tubes fastened to my body and said, "Let's get out of here.
Before
I
could
ask
him
a
question
,
my
wife
stood
up
,
handed
me
my
clothes
,
adjusted
the
tubes
fastened
to
my
body
and
said
,
``
Let
's
get
out
of
here
.
This man is a risk to your health."
This
man
is
a
risk
to
your
health
.
''
As she helped me struggle to the door, the doctor came near us.
As
she
helped
me
struggle
to
the
door
,
the
doctor
came
near
us
.
"Stay back," demanded my wife.
``
Stay
back
,
''
demanded
my
wife
.
"Stay away from us."
``
Stay
away
from
us
.
''
As we walked together down the hall, the doctor attempted to catch up with us.
As
we
walked
together
down
the
hall
,
the
doctor
attempted
to
catch
up
with
us
.
"Keep going," said my wife, pushing the intravenous stand.
``
Keep
going
,
''
said
my
wife
,
pushing
the
intravenous
stand
.
"We're going to talk to someone who really knows what is going on."
``
We
're
going
to
talk
to
someone
who
really
knows
what
is
going
on
.
''
Then she held up her hand to the doctor.
Then
she
held
up
her
hand
to
the
doctor
.
"Don't come any closer to us."
``
Do
n't
come
any
closer
to
us
.
''
The two of us moved as one.
The
two
of
us
moved
as
one
.
We escaped to the safety and hope of a doctor who did not confuse diagnosis with conclusion.
We
escaped
to
the
safety
and
hope
of
a
doctor
who
did
not
confuse
diagnosis
with
conclusion
.
I could never have made that walk toward wellness alone.
I
could
never
have
made
that
walk
toward
wellness
alone
.
When I was struggling with cancer a few years ago, my wife and I formed our own "couple caution circle". Anytime a doctor came with news of my progress, my wife would give me a big hug. The reports were seldom good during the early stages of my illness, and one day a doctor brought particularly frightening news. Staring at my reports, he said in a low voice, "It doesn't look like you're going to make it."  Before I could ask him a question, my wife stood up, handed me my clothes, adjusted the tubes fastened to my body and said, "Let's get out of here. This man is a risk to your health." As she helped me struggle to the door, the doctor came near us. "Stay back," demanded my wife. "Stay away from us."  As we walked together down the hall, the doctor attempted to catch up with us. "Keep going," said my wife, pushing the intravenous stand. "We're going to talk to someone who really knows what is going on." Then she held up her hand to the doctor. "Don't come any closer to us."  The two of us moved as one. We escaped to the safety and hope of a doctor who did not confuse diagnosis with conclusion. I could never have made that walk toward wellness alone.