Elizabeth A. Garcia
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A Healing Touch

11/19/2015

19 Comments

 

I want to tell you about something good…something so good it makes me tear up to write about it. Twelve years ago I met a man who changed my life forever. I’m pretty sure he saved it. You see, this man is a doctor. He’s one of the foremost pulmonologists in the world, and he lives in San Angelo, Texas.

A friend who also lived in San Angelo told me about this doc and wouldn’t stop bugging me to see him. I had given up on doctors, even pulmonologists, because none of them had ever heard of my disease. I was “fighting” the disease by ignoring it. Yeah, that always works.

In truth, I only agreed to see this specialist so my friend would give it a rest. He also suffered from a rare and incurable lung disease so I gave him the courtesy of a listen.

I am the woman who tries to put a positive spin on everything, yet I drove the five hours from Terlingua to San Angelo with mixed feelings, none of them very positive. I insisted on going alone so I could cry all the way home without anyone to shush me. The medical profession in general had failed me since 1985, when I’d been sent home to die. “You have this fatal disease, but we know nothing about it.” “You probably have about six months.” “Good luck.”

Thanks a lot.

Did I dare hope some “San Angelo specialist” would help me? Against all odds, I did dare. Just a little.

Before I ever met this doctor, I was given breathing test after breathing test. After those, his nurse took the most comprehensive medical history I’ve ever given anyone. Then she said, “You were diagnosed with a disease in 1985? Please tell me the name of it.”

“Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.”

“Say what? Can you spell that?”

“No.”

She left it blank and took me into the examination room where I would finally meet the doctor. He came in, introduced himself, and shook my hand. His hand was warm and strong and his smile made it to his eyes. I warmed to him a tad.

He placed the test results and my new folder on the exam table and studied them. I knew that he knew I was in trouble, but he stayed calm and asked, “What brings you in today?”

“I have a rare lung disease that nobody seems to know.”

He had his back to me for a moment because he was washing his hands at the sink. “The name of it?”

I told him and added, “Have you ever heard of it?”

He turned to me with an incredulous look on his face. “Of course I’ve heard of it! I’m a pulmonologist.”

Tears sprang into my eyes.

He finished drying his hands and then he said, “The disease you have is now referred to as LAM. Were you diagnosed by lung biopsy?”

“Yes.”

“What year was that?”

“It was January of 1985.”

“Did you say 1985?” He couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Yes.”

“What did they tell you?”

“That nothing was known about the disease and that I should get my affairs in order. They gave me six months to live.”

“Doctors should never do that.”

“I’m glad they did because I set out to prove them wrong. And I have.”

“You certainly have.” He gazed at me as if I were a rare pink unicorn.

After a bit more talk, he said I would need many more comprehensive tests. I told him I had no insurance due to preexisting conditions and would not be able to afford those tests.

He took my hand and looked into my eyes and said, “I will never charge you one dime for anything. I don’t need your money. I want you to live. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I could barely speak. I felt I was in this presence of a holy man. I was, but I hadn’t taken it in yet.

“I want to be a part of something this fantastic. God wants you alive for some important reason and I feel called to help. I cannot say no to God.”

I have come to know this doctor well in twelve years of seeing him every three months. He cares for me as if I am his own mother. True to his word, he has never charged me one dime. He treats me as though I’m his only patient. He is so full of love; it spills all around him. When he touches me I feel the healer in him, as though I’m being touched by a deity. And I always, always feel his love. Sitting here, far from him, I can still feel it. I know I could call him right now and say I needed to see him and he’d say, “Come on.”

This amazing doctor’s name? It’s Mohammed-Ammar Ayass. He is Syrian. He is a devout Muslim. He’s a pulmonologist, a cardiologist, AND he’s also an internist. I have never known a better doctor or a more brilliant man.  

Like all people everywhere, Syrians are a mix of good and bad, beautiful and ugly. Why would people assume they’re all terrorists? Really? What we need, what every country needs, is more human beings like Dr. Ayass. What if he had been turned away from our shores?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19 Comments
Kathleen Tolbert Ryan
11/19/2015 06:14:46 pm

Wonderful Beth!!!! Thank you for posting this amazing story!!

Reply
Carlton Leatherwood
11/19/2015 06:38:47 pm

As precious, as timely a story as one can find, Beth. It needs to reach a wide audience.

Reply
Jo and Chuck
11/19/2015 06:43:20 pm

Every person with a chronic illness is looking for the warm, strong hand belonging to a strong supporter with smiling eyes. The patience to listen to our worries and triumphs that others would overlook is such a blessing to find. Sharing your experience in spoken and written words makes us grateful that you were led to someone who keeps you in our lives. We know others who would benefit from your medical friend. Folks would be excited to find such an experienced physician close to home, a blessing. Seeing the "cover" of this man would be cause for some to turn from his care. You are testament that we should respond to the warmth of the hand and brain, not the coldness of prejudice.

Reply
Lupita
11/19/2015 06:45:47 pm

Wow!! Amazing story!!

Reply
charley priddy
11/19/2015 07:26:28 pm

This needs to be shared everywhere! I'm so happy he's taken such good care of you so we could reconnect after what 45+ years! Love you Beth!

Reply
Rosemary Waldron link
11/19/2015 10:14:12 pm

Thank you so much Ms.Garcia for sharing this personal journey with us, and for opening many peoples' eyes to a fresh, and humane perspective. I was also heartened to learn that there are still such caring, ethical, as well as brilliant physicians in this world, and you were blessed with finding Dr. Ayass! This gives us all hope re: our own, or a loved ones' illness. ♡

Reply
Cheryl Eakens
11/19/2015 10:18:42 pm

Thank you so much for writing this. I am saddened by so much I see in the media and this is so positive.

Reply
Beth
11/20/2015 07:19:10 am

Same here, Cheryl. Thanks for reading.

Reply
Myrna Cordero
11/19/2015 10:21:53 pm

Thank you so much Beth for sharing this beautiful part of your journey.

Reply
Beth
11/20/2015 07:17:55 am

You're welcome. Thanks for reading it.

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Mary L Dutchover
11/20/2015 09:49:46 am

I believe that there is greatness in everyone and somewhere along the road of life we make decisions that harm not only ourselves but humamity. For I do nothing that affects no one. Beth you touch lives by being Beth. You touch lives in your absolutely wonderful writing and you touch me by knowing you so everyday wake up and you will touch the world without knowing who they are.

Reply
Tommye Linan
11/20/2015 02:07:03 pm

Thank you so much for sharing this, Beth. We are so lucky that you are such a stubborn person and refused to believe all those previous doctors, and also lucky to be able to read this heartwarming story about another wonderful human being.

Reply
Cheryl Zinsmeyer
11/21/2015 08:14:02 am

What a beautiful story about a wonderful doctor (as well as his wonderful patient)! Thank you for sharing it, Beth. There are good people everywhere, if we just look.

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Barbara Hines
11/21/2015 04:19:58 pm

Beth - thank you for sharing this. I know you don't like talking about your disease. Without this wonderful doctor, we may have lost a dear friend years ago, although we know how hard you fight on your own. To everyone else reading this, please, let's make this go viral. With love.

Reply
Martha
11/22/2015 12:19:32 pm

Beth, You have told me all of this before and I could barely read it through my tears. What a fabulous thing to put into words at this very time. It is clear to me why God wanted you alive! Love you so much!

Reply
MOHAMAD AMMAR AYASS link
12/2/2015 05:12:26 am

Dear Ms. Garcia. Thank you so much for your kind words about me. It is a great honor to have a friend like you my dear. I do honor the trust that you put in me, and I always ask God almighty to be a good trustee.
I do honor life. Life is priceless. Your well-being is my priority. I do care out of fairness to people. People have their rights on me to be treated to the best of my ability, so help me God. God bless you and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Yours, Dr Ayass

Reply
Lynda Douglas
9/17/2016 10:41:33 am

Beautifully written. Hope all read response of the very good doctor.

Thank you for sharing your heart

Reply
Beth
9/18/2016 05:05:09 pm

Thank you, Linda.

Reply
Marina Teramond link
6/6/2021 06:27:36 am

A good doctor is sometimes very difficult to find!

Reply



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