Every day after clinic, I eagerly anticipate the serene stroll along Brickell Key, a therapeutic journey that has become a source of solace. I look forward to the sound of palm trees swaying and waves crashing. I am excited about being greeted by wagging tails of enthusiastic dogs, eagerly seeking attention with their beady eyes. This quiet path has often welcomed my tears, those of joy and even of sorrow; the subtle traces of my emotions gently mingling with this beautiful haven beneath my feet. This tranquil path has become a sanctuary where I unravel the complexities of health care I witness in my clerkships, finding clarity amidst the soothing rhythm of the surroundings, allowing me to reflect, learn, and grow with each step.
As this walk has become a rhythm of my daily routine, so has exchanging greetings with a gentleman who resides on a bench, sheltered by the embrace of trees, amidst the city’s hustle and bustle. Over the course of the last two years, I’ve observed him navigating the relentless summer heat, steadfastly enduring the persistent hum of mosquitoes that plague his bench. Clad in a weathered red blanket that bears the marks of time, he resiliently braves the seasons. In a recent encounter, I witnessed him tending to a wound on his leg with makeshift wound care, utilizing dirty Clorox wipes.
On that particular day, I set out on my Brickell Key walk after a long day spent in clinic and then traversing downtown Miami to offer care beneath overpasses and bridges to those experiencing homelessness. My heart weighed heavily from the street medicine encounters, with the realization that the medication provided to a patient battling chronic heart failure might be vulnerable to theft and that the individual striving tirelessly to escape the streets could potentially return to find his possessions vanished. In the midst of grappling with the emotions of that day, I rounded a corner, yearning for the familiar exchange of soft smiles with the gentleman on the bench. To my surprise, I discovered him struggling to clean an open wound on his leg, a poignant scene that added depth to the complexities of our shared urban landscape. That day, the familiar path of Brickell Key seemed to stretch endlessly, the distance magnified as I wrestled with the stark reality of medical inequity, a sobering contrast to the captivating facade of Miami’s allure.
The following morning, Dr. J, the medical team and I once again filled the street outreach van to attend to more patients. Driving through the downtown streets, witnessing the emergence of people from their tents bathed in the early sunlight, my thoughts remained tethered to the gentleman on the bench. Sharing his narrative with Dr. J, I mustered the courage to propose visiting him at his familiar spot to provide much-needed wound care. With Dr. J’s reassurance, I felt relieved knowing we could extend our care to someone who embodies the resilience of our urban landscape and the city I call home.
I gently tapped his shoulder to wake him, trying not to startle him as I remained mindful of the perpetual guard, understandably, maintained by individuals experiencing homelessness. As his eyes slowly opened, revealing a subtle hint of confusion, I took a seat beside him on the bench. Despite my attire of scrubs and my university medical ID, I sought to unveil another layer of identity, one that might resonate more familiarly with him amid this otherwise unfamiliar scenario. I asked him if he recognizes me, he smiled and nodded yes but I doubt he actually did; his daily encounter with hundreds of passersby, each greeted with a warm smile, makes my face just one among many.
I opened up the conversation by asking about his wounded leg. “Sir, I noticed your leg earlier this week when I was on my usual walk” I said, my tone gentle yet probing. “Would you mind sharing what happened?” He glanced down at his injured limb, a mixture of reluctance and resignation flickering in his eyes. “It was a car accident,” he muttered. “Just crossing the street. “Nodding sympathetically, I continued, “Do you mind if we take a look?” With a sigh, he rolled up his worn pajama pants, a pungent scent emanating from the wound. As he peeled away the blood-stained sock, I exchanged a concerned glance with Dr. J. “We’ll get this cleaned up for you,” I assured him. Slowly removing the sock saturated in dried blood and pus, devoid of any trace of its original color, we carefully positioned his foot on a stool and began cleansing the wound with a saline solution and applying antibiotic ointment. We put him in a new pair of clean white socks after discarding the old ones. As we were attending to the gentleman on the bench, I looked up and saw the city moving as fast as ever. People continued their commute to work with headphones in their ears. People walked their dogs as they sipped their morning coffee. Life persisted in its unyielding momentum, each individual navigating his own course.
The gentleman profusely thanked us but I did not think he needed to. Caring for those within our community is not just a duty but a responsibility. My family medicine clerkship continues to teach me the value of pouring into our community because it is the community that lends us strength, providing a profound sense of belonging and home. Although the gentleman on the bench may not realize it, he has become an integral part of my community, transforming my Brickell Key stroll into a journey that feels like my haven. It instills in me a steadfast commitment to care for those who contribute to making a place feel like home.
Image credit: Bench (CC BY-NC 2.0) by stormgrass
Contributing Writer
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Shalini Pandey is a medical student at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, class of 2025. In 2019 she graduated from the University of South Florida's Judy Genshaft Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences and minors in psychology and nutrition. She enjoys tapping into all things creative like painting, pottery, and poetry and spending time outdoors soaking up the sunshine in her free time. After graduating medical school, Shalini would like to pursue a career in pediatrics.