A Shared Voice of Virtue – Ethan Hood, PT, DPT, MBA, GCS, NCS
As a practicing physical therapist for over twenty years, caring for individuals recovering from neurological disease has been one of the greatest blessings and sources of inspiration in my life. My patients have come to me to learn how to walk again, to gain strength, or to be able to take care of themselves and their families as they did before an injury or trauma abruptly changed their lives. It would seem that they were the ones benefiting from my care. But in reality, the gift of their wisdom has been a personal reward for me far greater than anything I could offer.
No one patient in particular stands out over the years. Rather, their collective voice, articulated in both words and actions, has shaped my adult years through marriage, caring for family members, and raising three children. These lessons have translated well to everyday life, but they resonate even more during these trying times of pandemic and social and political unrest.
Patience and humility are the resounding characteristics I’ve witnessed from patients over the years. Despite having their lives turned upside down, and their societal and familial roles being completely altered, their ability to repeatedly come to the physical therapy gym and focus on their recovery often astounded me. Never blaming others for their lot in life, they put their trust in the process of therapy and the power of the human body and spirit to heal. Despite different backgrounds, experiences, and diagnoses, all patients entered that therapy gym with a common goal: to confront the obstacles placed before them without fear of failure, and then with patience and humility, to return to that gym for weeks, months, possibly years, as they work toward recovery.
We’ve recently marked one year since the first cases of novel coronavirus were found in the United States. Since then, we’ve witnessed the remarkable ability of human beings to adapt to a changed environment, almost overnight, and to face the obstacles that this pandemic has presented. We began with a shared immediacy and strength and found a way to continue our daily lives. Weeks turned into months and here we are a year later, still living virtually and socially distanced. We’ve seen firsthand the resiliency of the human spirit, but many of us are tired, both physically and emotionally. Vaccines have arrived to provide a light at the end of the tunnel, but the phenomenon of pandemic fatigue is real. It is now that the wisdom and perseverance of my patients resonate most. With patience and humility, we can recover.
As the undergraduates return to campus this week and breathe life back into our campus community, let us remember that we are not out of the woods yet. But if we stay the course, and remain patient, humble, and without fear, we will all get through these trying times together.
Stay safe and healthy.
Ethan Hood, PT, DPT, MBA, GCS, NCS, is an assistant professor of physical therapy in the doctor of physical therapy program.