A story of human capability.

  • Published
  • By Chaplin (Capt.) Gabriel Casciato
  • 132 FW/HC
Des Moines, IA --  Every once in a while, I am able to find something that absolutely stuns me. I'm talking about one of those stories that completely blows my socks off; something that redefines the limits of human capability. The story of David Nott is one of those stories.
 
Dr Nott is a surgeon who was volunteering in Congo in 2008. He was working among soldiers and civilians wounded in battles between the Congolese and rebel troops. He was brought a 16 year old boy whose arm was "totally destroyed" in a blast. His only hope of survival was a very complicated surgery called a "forequarter amputation" that involves removing the collar bone and shoulder blade. It is a risky surgery under the best of conditions and these were far from the best conditions. What makes this story so amazing is that Dr Nott had never done the surgery before. He contacted a colleague in London who sent him instructions for the surgery via 2 text messages! The surgery was a success but how many of us would willingly undergo surgery under such conditions? Not me! I would prefer my doctor to have a little more in depth communication. Call me old fashioned.

We are communicating at levels unprecedented in human history. Email, Facebook, text messages... Our world is a constant barrage of communication. And yet, for all those advances, we are actually communicating less. More volume but shallow content. More "friends" and more isolation at the same time. If we are not careful, we begin to forget that communication is actually about people, not facts. To honestly communicate takes time and energy. It's hard work to REALLY listen. It's not convenient or efficient. But in the end it's worth it because it's deep and it's real. Let's slow down, just a bit, and take the time, not to communicate well, but to communicate with PEOPLE well. Ask someone how they are doing and really listen before you ask for what you want. Whether it's a buddy, a co-worker, a spouse or a child, take the time to communicate well. You might be glad you did...but they DEFINITLY will be.