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A Night to Remember

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Joshua Cuoco
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 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
A Night to Remember
Joshua A. Cuoco, MS1
1
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY
A s he lay in the hospital bed, I barely recog-
nized him. Tongue hanging out of his mouth
with blood and drool dripping down the side of
his chin, staples running down his neck meeting
at a tracheotomy; the proposed two-week recov-
ery period was inconceivable. It was not until
after the otolaryngologist removed the cancer-
ous mass from his tongue that I realized just how
slow and painful his recovery would be. The
man lying in that hospital bed was certainly not
a stranger. He was the one who taught me how to
throw a baseball, how to drive a car, and how to
properly raise a family. This man was my stepfa-
ther.
Shortly after the clock struck 4 AM, his halluci-
nations began to fade as the opioids wore off. I
sat in a chair across from him with a pillow and
blanket trying to fall asleep, distracted by the
many thoughts of how he impacted my life for
the better. Fatherless until eight-years old, he
came into my life and took me in as one of his
own when he married my mother. Throughout
my teenage years he provided guidance, mentor-
ship, and unconditional love despite my teenage
ignorance. For many years I was content with a
career in music education, as I taught weekly
music lessons to children as a high school stu-
dent. While I questioned my future plans, my
Corresponding Author: Joshua A. Cuoco, MS
Email: jcuoco@nyit.edu
The authors claim no conflicts of interest or disclosures.
AMSRJ 2016; 2(1):53-55
http://dx.doi.org/10.15422/amsrj.2015.05.009
AMSRJ 2016 Volume 3, Number 1
HUMANITIES
stepfather also questioned them, asking whether
I thought music education was my calling in life.
In speaking with him it was apparent that I need-
ed a career that was without routine or structure.
Rather, I needed a career that challenged my en-
durance, questioned my logic, and always kept
me on edge, forced to learn something new each
and every day.
After the nurse came in to check on him, I laid
my head back on the pillow and continued to
think about his influence in my life. It seemed as
though it was just yesterday he was diagnosed
with his first cancer – stage 3 Hodgkin’s lym-
phoma. Enduring months of harsh treatment, his
optimistic view of life never faded. Neither
chemotherapy-induced vomiting or hair loss, a
questionable prognosis, nor cancer itself could
overcome his excitement for life. A single trial
with cancer should be sufficient to validate
one’s character; nevertheless, a second diagno-
sis of cancer could not bring down his spirits. His
continued sense of hope despite considerable
health issues has served as a testament to me that
nothing in life is unachievable or impossible to
overcome – certainly not cancer. His character
during these trying times taught me that in order
to achieve success, one must first envision suc-
cess and exhibit a humble attitude of triumph
while in pursuit of the goal at hand.
Although I sat across from the man who taught
me these lessons, I did not always believe in
them. My high school years were a difficult time
for me both socially and academically. My lack
53
 ANIGHT TO REMEMBER
of confidence was masked by arrogance. Apathy
manifested itself as I found myself on the cusp of
failing chemistry and pre-calculus. As gradua-
tion approached, my stepfather sat me down as
we spoke about college and future plans. He told
HUMANITIES
me, “Vision without action is purely a dream,
action without a vision will just pass time, yet
vision with action can change the world we live
in.” A simple yet profound piece of advice, these
words opened my eyes to the opportunity of at-
tending college and the potential to make a dif-
ference in the world. Humble in spirit yet boldly
courageous, it was my stepfather who showed
me that success must first be envisioned before
it can be achieved.
Slowly drifting away, I quickly regained con-
sciousness to the sound of intense coughing.
Globs of blood and mucus covered his tra-
cheotomy and thorax as urine began to soak a
portion of his nightgown. Watching his eyelids
slowly close, I put on a pair of latex gloves to
clean his blood-soaked chest and wash the urine
from his legs with warm water. My stepfather
was the one who taught me to respect authority
as well as listen intently to the advice given by
those in positions above me. He always told me,
“Nothing in the world can take the place of per-
sistence and determination – for these attributes
are omnipotent.” Whether it was in the college
classroom or volunteering in the clinic, his oft-
repeated statement echoed in my mind – that is,
until I was rejected from every medical school I
applied to. Although I was not granted accep-
tance upon my first application, it was my step-
father who sat me down and reminded me of the
attributes necessary for success - vision, action,
persistence, and determination. With his en-
couragement, I pursued a graduate degree and
reapplied to medical school. He never ceased to
support his stepson’s vision of entering medical
school and becoming a doctor.
Soon after the sun rose, I saw his eyes slowly
break their seal. With a smile on my face and a
54 AMSRJ 2016 Volume 3, Number 1
tear streaming down the side of my cheek, I then
believed that the two-week recovery plan pro-
posed by his surgeon would suffice. By whatev-
er means necessary, I knew that my stepfather
would soon be back on his feet supporting his
family and accomplishing his dreams. I rose
from that hospital chair, walked over to his bed-
side and embraced him. With a soft voice and a
quiver in my throat, I whispered in his ear,
“Thank you for making me the man I am today
and for the successful physician one day I will
soon become.”
As I reminisce about this night, I recognize that
this experience has taught me several invaluable
lessons. Although I was able to provide comfort
to my stepfather the night of his surgery, I real-
ized that there are many patients within hospitals
around the world who not only lack visitors but
families entirely. Healthcare providers, includ-
ing medical students, may be the closest resem-
blance to a family that these patients will experi-
ence. It is important to remember that patients
must always be viewed as patients; nevertheless,
interactions with healthcare providers may be a
patient’s only source of communication with
others. It is imperative for healthcare providers
to spend the extra thirty seconds with our pa-
tients and provide them with a few words of
comfort or encouragement when due. It may be
the only source of inspiration they receive for the
day, month, or even year. As my stepfather
taught me, we can encourage our patients to
achieve a state of mind where they envision
themselves overcoming an illness. Simple
phrases of support have the potential to trans-
form a patient’s pessimistic view on their health
to an optimistic perspective. I believe that if we
combine a patient’s positivity with a physician’s
care, we can change the face of medicine. As I
was once told what now seems like a lifetime
ago, vision with action can change the world.
 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

HUMANITIES
I would like to thank John Davy, Michael Can-
farotta, and my wife, Ashley Cuoco, for their
comments.

AMSRJ 2016 Volume 3, Number 1 55

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