ROAR

 Yesterday I greeted my 6 year old and his family in the new gathering space at the new Sunny Hill, me: face shield in place - I cheerily say "Good morning gang", my kid LEAPS out of his chair mask under his nose, and RUNS over to show me his Mum's phone where he is playing a T-Rex-destroy-the-city dinosaur game while he roared loudly (through his mask), moved his hands like a T-rex and smiled broadly (I could see it in his eyes despite the mask) while making sure and purposeful eye contact so I decide to roar back. He shrieks, runs back to his Mum to hand over the phone and comes back to hug my legs. He then grabs my hand to walk to the exam room. He then spent the session standing next to me, BY MY SIDE, hand on my thigh and roaring every once in a while - we became easy friends. When I was a resident I used to be scolded for touching patients, holding a hand during bad news, a hug at the end of a difficult session, a comforting arm squeeze was frowned upon. Here is the thing, medicine cannot be practiced without touch or for that matter nearness, be it for rapport, physical exam or comfort. When this whole mess started I said to my Mum "You can't go out or touch anyone, you could get COVID and could die" To which she responded "Well then I will just die of sadness". SO, let's kick this COVID butt and here's to the HAPPY day when we can TOUCH AGAIN. In the meantime ... ROAR!!