The
teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. – Psalm 119:130
(NLT)
“Can you see this inmate complaining that her jaw is stuck?”
asked one of the units where they housed female prisoners.
 |
| Photo Credit |
“Send her down!” I uttered over the phone.
With my readied pen, I took her booking number and started
probing more regarding her medical or mental history. Glancing at past and
future appointments from the monitor in front of me, it was easy to see that
she was seen recently by the prison’s dentist and she was also seen by the
Mental Health Services. I got up and searched for her medical chart from the
thousands filed in the metal bins. Right in the middle of the Infirmary.
“What was the complaint, Rcubes?” asked one of the nurses
working with me that night.
“The unit said that the inmate’s jaw is stuck. Either she
has jaw problem but she also has mental health issues,” I responded.
“I’ll see her,” I added as I only worked 4 hours that night
to help out the short staff. I could see that nurse already tired from working
not even half of her 12 hour shift. I wanted to help her knowing she was one of
those who worked hard and never needed to be told on what to do.
She sat quietly as I looked through the glass partition
window. Her long hair, slightly disheveled, lacking gloss. Her orange,
prison-issued uniform slightly loose from her thin frame. I let her in to start
asking about her complaint. I felt her jaw clicking on the left side as if the
jaw bones were grating against each other. With that, she complained of
increasing pain, barely able to open the mouth fully. I knew well ahead of
time, prior to her arrival that the dentist already had scheduled her for a
specialist consult regarding this problem. Except…the wait always took a long
time. Month…Depending on that Specialty Clinic’s availability.
“You had been seen already for this problem and in fact, the
dentist had already requested for an OMFS referral…” I stopped in the middle of
my explanation…Realizing she might not understand what I just said. It was just
not her “lingo”. OMFS… Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery…Who would know? If that
person didn’t have a medical background.
“Oh, God!” I prayed in my mind as she kept her eye contact
with me.
“Help me explain it to her in easier ‘layman’ terms…”
“Ma’am…” I continued as I tried to gather my thoughts,
praying still at the back of my mind for His help and wisdom…
“You just need to be patient because our dentist had already
requested for an appointment for you to see the doctor who specializes in
treating diseases for your jaw…But our dentist can’t do anything not until that
doctor’s office give her the schedule or “go signal” for your case. If the
Motrin is not helping you for pain, I will schedule you to see our dentist
tomorrow so maybe you can ask her if it’s okay for you to get a stronger dose
of pain medication as you wait for that appointment.”
The words kept coming…I had to inhale and replenished my
lungs hungry for air. As she sat there in front of me…Quietly…So still…
She got up and thanked me. She said she understood better
that she needed to be patient and that her jaw, despite the pain, was not
life-threatening. She admitted her long Methamphetamine abuse. The last day she
quit was on the day she was arrested. That could have killed her than this ‘jaw
problem’…
She heard the loud ‘click’ from the heavy, metal door.
Signifying I opened it as her more calm demeanor exited. The anxious look on
her face was replaced with a slight, grateful smile as she opened her right
palm to receive the small envelope I stuffed with some packets of Motrin to
help her for the pain, despite the slight relief, until she would see the
dentist in the morning…Her shadow was long gone but deep in my heart, I knew…She
got it…Because of her ‘clicking jaw’, the demanded visit made her understand
the reality of waiting for everything in perfect timing. It clicked…Because
simple words needed to be explained…So they could be understood.
And how true it is for all of us!!! If we approach the
Bible, His truth, as lay persons…Just be still…Read with open minds…And hearts…And
as one’s understanding of God’s truth starts ‘clicking’…it will be so clear…how
much He loves everyone…Ahhh…The wonders of His redeeming love…
