Yesterday, a woman from the Philippines brought her 70-year-old mother (Mrs P) to see me. She had suffered a stroke 30 years ago that left her with aphasia – the inability to use language. There are many types of aphasia, but hers was expressive aphasia, where she could understand what was spoken, but was unable to express herself. Her family had to help her by guessing what she meant to say at times.
Throughout the consult, Mrs P was able to follow the conversation between her daughter and me, nodding or shaking her head appropriately and laughing at times when I was (intentionally) amusing. Finally, when the consult was over and she was about to get up from her chair, she struggled to say something. Her brow was slightly furrowed. The words would not come. She then used the index finger of her good hand (her right arm had been weakened by her stroke) to try and "write" out the word she wanted to say on my table top but failed.
Suddenly she looked up, as if the word had finally come to her, and she beamed and blurted out, "thank you!"
It took all of us by surprise as she laughed, as if pleased with herself.
"That was a very heartfelt thanks, doc," her daughter said to me.
I was very moved. That, made my week.