Show Love to All

“Come on, let’s go!” Kristina yelled, jumping out of the driver’s seat before I could even reply.

“Why are you rushing? You know we’ll only take 5 minutes before she kicks us out” I retorted, watching her pull a box of supplies from the backseat, close the door with a kick and begin ambling up the concrete steps.

“Nope. She loves me. She hasn’t seen me in a while, but I’m her favorite” Kristina replied, already halfway up the stairs before my foot could even touch the first step. She lugged the box to the stop of the stairs, placed it down, retrieved the key from under the welcome mat, and began fiddling with the door lock. The home belonged to a client, Victoria, who had dealt with much trauma in her life. This led to her misanthropic comportment at times – rarely, if ever, would a clinician be able to visit her. And if they did, the most they were able to do was treat her wounds before promptly being shown the proverbial door.

“She has kicked out every person who has seen her. She doesn’t want to see anyone, not even you and your loudness. Just treat her wound and we’ll go” I said.

Kristina, paying me no mind, unlocked the door and leaned over to retrieve the box of supplies.

“Here let me help you with that-” I offered.

“I don’t need a man to help me!” Kristina replied in her booming voice amalgamated with her infectious giggle. We opened the door and saw Victoria waiting for us on her couch adjacent to her window. A table with a plate and some food was in front of her, but she was lying down with her hand on her head, almost as if nursing headache.

“VICTORIA!” Kristina shouted with glee “How are you my love?”

Victoria, semi-startled, removed her hand from her head and viewed Kristina, before exclaiming “Oh hi my beautiful girl!” Kristina placed the box down on the carpet and gave Victoria a tight hug, which Victoria reciprocated before stating “I missed you my pretty girl.”

I watched from the doorway, flabbergasted at what I was seeing. Every other clinician - everyone (myself included) - had been kicked out by Victoria. She had not let a soul so much as shake her hand, let alone give her the enormous bear hug that Kristina was embracing her with. Yet, before my very eyes, I witnessed Kristina being the emotional crutch that Victoria needed.

Hesitant, I waited in the doorway before Kristina pointed at me and said “Look at him! Do you remember him? He’s your social worker.”

Victoria looked at me quizzically before whispering “He’s with you?”

“Yes! He’s here to see you too. He’s nice I promise” Kristina said with a wink to Victoria.

I apprehensively approached and Victoria, for the first time ever, reached out and grabbed my hand.

“Oh, you look so nice!” she exclaimed.

“Oh thank you… It’s… you know… just the suit” I stuttered. This was the most Victoria had ever spoken to me before.

“Don’t worry dear, I’ll take care of your wounds” Kristina said. “Do you have any pain?”

“No, not at all” Victoria replied, beaming at Kristina. “My favorite person is here!”

“Aww, I missed you too!” Kristina replied.

As I sat next to Victoria (also for the first time ever), I watched in awe as Kristina did a head-to-toe assessment, checked Victoria for any new sores or wounds, checked her medication, and provided wound treatment. She was gentle, yet confident. Precise, yet accommodating. Skilled, yet still affectionate. When Kristina finished the treatment, she said:

“All done dear! How are you feeling?”

“Very good!” Victoria exclaimed, still smiling at Kristina. “Thank you so much for visiting me!”

“Well, I have a question for you” Kristina said. “I hear you like the casino?”

“Oh yeah – I love it. I used to go all the time and play poker.”

“You did? Do you have any cards around here?” Kristina asked.

“Oh yeah – right there” Victoria motioned to a set of cards on a table close to the door.

“Well let’s play poker!” Kristina said, retrieving the cards and shuffling them.

For the remainder of our visit, we played Texas Hold ‘Em with Victoria. She would yell out “Oh yeah!” whenever she had a favorable hand, and “Pee-yoo” whenever she had an unenviable one. And, the entire time, Kristina’s sonorous laughter kept Victoria’s spirits high. After Victoria had won a substantive number of hands, she promised that she would take Kristina out to caviar, and I could tag along. She also made us promise to visit her again soon, to which Kristina, of course, agreed.

As we left her home, I couldn’t stop myself. I whirled on Kristina:

“What the heck just happened?” I blurted.

“What do you mean?” Kristina replied nonchalantly as we descended the steps.

“That’s never happened before. She’s not like that normally. She doesn’t like people” I countered.

“Well, you heard it” Kristina grinned. “I’m her favorite.” And for once, I truly couldn’t argue with her.