Patient Stories: Jonathan
Dear Dr. He,
You have made one of the biggest positive changes in my life, a change I would want more than anything else, even a billion dollars. When my teacher first introduced this assignment, a letter of gratitude to somebody of our choice, the very first person I thought of writing to was you because you have given me the greatest feelings of relief and happiness I have ever felt.
About half a year ago, you had a doubtful teenager come into your office. For you, this may have just been another day on the job and another patient to work on. I was terrified at the thought of having several needles put into me, but looking back, this was perhaps one of the greatest days of my life. You led me into a room and told me to lie down. I did so and you walked out, closing the door. Immediately, I began arguing with my mom, begging her to let me go without having you work on my arm, but she wouldn't change her mind.
Before coming to your office, I had Googled acupuncture. One site had said that the youngest children would get around seven needles. Another said it would hurt. Several weeks before, I had gone to a neurologist who had tested my nerves by sticking Five large needles into my arm, which had been extremely painful. This past experience, along with what I had found online, caused me to be incredibly frightened of acupuncture. Eventually, my mother said she would ask if I could only take one needle.
When you came back into the room, I told you I didn't want to take any needles. My mom, who was growing extremely irritated, told you I would have to take at least one needle. I asked you if you could provide me with some sleeping pills, saying that if you gave me some pills and I fell asleep, you could give me as many needles as you wanted. You went into a cabinet and took out a bottle of pills, giving me one, which I now know wasn't really a sleeping pill. I swallowed the pill and lay down with my eyes closed, expecting to fall asleep at any moment.
Fifteen minutes later, you came back in, but I wasn't asleep yet. I asked for a couple more minutes, and you came back in after about five minutes, but I was still awake. I gave up and said I could take one needle. You opened a packet of needles, and I closed my eyes. I felt your hands feeling and exploring my scar at different spots. With each contact, you asked me if it hurt and after a minute or two of this, you began leaving the room. I opened my eyes, and there was a needle in my forearm. I was completely astonished because I hadn't felt anything. I had thought that you were just seeing how bad each section of my scar was.
By the end of the session, I had let you insert another needle, but what was most surprising was the fact that my hand movement seemed to have improved already, with only two needles. Since then, my hand movement has been restored by your work on my arm, and for that, I am truly thankful.
Sincerely,
Jonathan J.
You have made one of the biggest positive changes in my life, a change I would want more than anything else, even a billion dollars. When my teacher first introduced this assignment, a letter of gratitude to somebody of our choice, the very first person I thought of writing to was you because you have given me the greatest feelings of relief and happiness I have ever felt.
About half a year ago, you had a doubtful teenager come into your office. For you, this may have just been another day on the job and another patient to work on. I was terrified at the thought of having several needles put into me, but looking back, this was perhaps one of the greatest days of my life. You led me into a room and told me to lie down. I did so and you walked out, closing the door. Immediately, I began arguing with my mom, begging her to let me go without having you work on my arm, but she wouldn't change her mind.
Before coming to your office, I had Googled acupuncture. One site had said that the youngest children would get around seven needles. Another said it would hurt. Several weeks before, I had gone to a neurologist who had tested my nerves by sticking Five large needles into my arm, which had been extremely painful. This past experience, along with what I had found online, caused me to be incredibly frightened of acupuncture. Eventually, my mother said she would ask if I could only take one needle.
When you came back into the room, I told you I didn't want to take any needles. My mom, who was growing extremely irritated, told you I would have to take at least one needle. I asked you if you could provide me with some sleeping pills, saying that if you gave me some pills and I fell asleep, you could give me as many needles as you wanted. You went into a cabinet and took out a bottle of pills, giving me one, which I now know wasn't really a sleeping pill. I swallowed the pill and lay down with my eyes closed, expecting to fall asleep at any moment.
Fifteen minutes later, you came back in, but I wasn't asleep yet. I asked for a couple more minutes, and you came back in after about five minutes, but I was still awake. I gave up and said I could take one needle. You opened a packet of needles, and I closed my eyes. I felt your hands feeling and exploring my scar at different spots. With each contact, you asked me if it hurt and after a minute or two of this, you began leaving the room. I opened my eyes, and there was a needle in my forearm. I was completely astonished because I hadn't felt anything. I had thought that you were just seeing how bad each section of my scar was.
By the end of the session, I had let you insert another needle, but what was most surprising was the fact that my hand movement seemed to have improved already, with only two needles. Since then, my hand movement has been restored by your work on my arm, and for that, I am truly thankful.
Sincerely,
Jonathan J.