Huzaifah Salat, Inaugural Regional Medical Director of Respiratory Care for Metro Milwaukee (Org 100) Hospitals, shared on LinkedIn:
“I have a confession: I get nervous before every lung biopsy I perform.
I’ve been doing robotic bronchoscopy for a while
I’ve diagnosed hundreds of lung cancers
I’ve trained at the largest pulmonary program in OK at OU Health
The smallest lung nodule I’ve diagnosed as cancer was 3 mm. ( Yes, not a typo )
And yet, before every case, I know my heart rate goes up.
- What if I can’t get a diagnostic answer for this patient?
- What if there’s a complication?
- What if something doesn’t go as planned?
Then one day, I had a realization:
It’s not in my control. It’s in God’s.
My job is to control what I can.
I’ve discussed the risks, benefits, and alternatives with my patient.
I’ve reviewed the imaging multiple times.
I’ve planned and prepared for the case as best as I can.
And then I let go of the rest.
So now, after our procedural sign-out and before I start the case, I say a small prayer.
Not for a perfect procedure.
Just a prayer that God helps me help the patient in front of me.
It has done wonders for my pre-case jitters.
It reminds me that preparation is my responsibility.
The outcome is not entirely mine to control.
It brings to mind a quote I once heard:
‘Pray like it all depends on God, and work like it all depends on you.’ ”
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