Share the Biscuit

There aren’t enough words in this world to describe the love I have for Pediatrics. Even having worked in the Pediatrics emergency department, a place where children are usually at their worst, I have never felt more passionate about this field of medicine.

I don’t think there will ever come a day when I’m not amazed by the courage, resilience, and positivity that can be demonstrated by a child, even in the most dire of situations.

One of my night duties, in particular, was one of the hardest. We were short staffed, overloaded with patients, and overworked for twelve hours straight. The patients flooded into the department like a tap with no stopper.

Five days earlier, we had a little girl who had very severe measles. She was forced to stay in the emergency department because we were the only department in the hospital that had an empty isolation room. Days before when the girl came, we weren’t sure if she was going to make it. She was barely able to stay awake, let alone walk around and feed herself. Only God knows how, but in a few days her condition turned around drastically. That night she was in the observation room with her mother, waiting to be discharged, while I was on duty.

It was 6 a.m., an hour before my night shift ended, when the little girl brought the widest smile to my face. While I was busy struggling to quickly type up discharge summaries on the clunky old computer, she walked up to me. With a big smile plastered on her sweet face, she offered me a biscuit. It was a welcome distraction that caught my busy mind off guard. “You’re so pretty, can I take a photo with you?” she asked. Of course, I was more than happy to comply!

Her small act of kindness touched me deeply, especially taking into consideration the humble backgrounds of the patients I often worked with. The little she had; she was willing to share. Looking back at the photo, I am always reminded that my struggles with studying and the blood, sweat and tears poured into my career are totally worth it!

Whenever I feel defeated, I think of her tiny outstretched hand and that single biscuit. I remind myself: this is why I chose this path.

I told the whole department how moved I was by this little girl, so much so that it became a saying; “Share the biscuit!” A reminder that there’s positivity in everything that you do. A reminder to give whatever you can, even on the hardest days. Just “Share the biscuit!”

-Nikita Egbert

Patient consent was obtained prior to sharing this story and image.