by Addison Sonnier
It was a grey Saturday morning. I remember the chimes of the door ringing as I pushed it open. I walked onto a rugged carpet and found myself before a smiling woman at the front desk. I courteously told her I was there to see Kimberly Blank, to which she responded: “Of course dear, she’s been expecting you. If you would be so kind as to go to her office you will find her. It is just down the hall, the last door to the left.” I thanked her and made my way to Mrs. Blank’s office. I knocked on the door, not really sure what to expect. I was asked to come in, and I found Mrs. Blank sitting behind her desk, reviewing what appeared to be a patient file. “Good morning, please do have a seat. It’s so wonderful that you could come at this hour. I am just getting ready for the first patient of the day.” For the next few minutes we engaged in casual conversation. I was just working myself to asking some general question about her experiences and about her vocation, but then another knock on the door. The first patient had arrived.
“Hello Martina, it’s so great to see you. Look at you. How is your hand doing, have you experienced any pain or discomfort?” I was surprised by her enthusiasm and the manner in which she managed to make the patient feel comfortable from the very beginning. She smiled from the moment that the patient entered, and she was also able to handle herself with confidence. For the next thirty minutes, Mrs. Blank directed her patient as she carried out a series of exercises with her hand. While doing therapy, she would talk to me directly, letting me know what she was doing and why she was doing. She also spoke to the patient, telling her who I was and why I was there. “This here is a young student who appears to have taken an interest in physical therapy. She is looking forward to becoming a PTA someday, and she is observing what we do in practice. You don’t mind, do you Martha? You’re not shy, are you?” We all chuckled after she said this, and it made for a very light and enjoyable atmosphere.
Throughout the rest of the day, the dynamic was pretty much the same. Between patients, Mrs. Blank asked for a few minutes while she reviewed the records for the patient she expected next. Whenever a new patient walked into the office, she would smile at them, greet them, and introduce me, explaining to all patients why I was there. Different patients completed different types of physical therapy, and every time she would make sure to explain to me what she was doing, why it was necessary, and what the therapy intended to accomplish. I was struck by the fact that no matter how many patients Mrs. Blank met with and treated, she never changed her demeanor or disposition. It was very apparent, to me and to all of her patients, that she was devoted to her profession and that she truly did love what she did.
Towards the end of my observation, there was one patient that stood out. This was a patient who had experienced a major knee fracture and had essentially needed to relearn his stride (after restoring mobility of his knee-joint). When the patient walked in, Mrs. Blank greeted him very much in the same way as she had greeted the previous patients. She immediately ushered him into an adjoining room where I saw there was a bed, cones, a medicine ball, and other equipment. She helped the patient lie down on the bed and told him to get comfortable for a minute while she set up the cones for the session. She helped the patient stretch his leg and bend both legs; she took careful notes and measurements of the degree of rotation, and she always had reassuring and encouraging comments for the patient, such as: “You’re doing great,” or “Wonderful, you will be back to your own self in no time.” After doing this, she helped the patient to the cones and he completed a series of circuit exercises, including toe taps. After completing the exercises, she helped the patient on to a table and applied heat on the knee. Finally, they went back to the office, where she updated the patient while updating his record in the computer.
I was struck by this patient because it was clear that she made an extra effort to be supportive and motivate the patient. This was the therapy session that made me realize that Mrs. Blank’s true vocation was to be a PTA, and it only made me more curious as to how she came to realize it. I finally had the opportunity after Mrs. Blank walked her last patient out the office door. She came back, smiled at me and stated: “I’m sure there must be some questions you would like to ask me, right? Right, let’s get on with it. Have a seat and we can have a little conversation before you go.” I could not believe it. This woman was probably tired after a long day of work, and she was still in good spirits and willing to stay a few minutes longer at work so that I could ask her questions.
I started off by thanking her for the opportunity and told her that her comments throughout the day had pretty much answered all of the questions I had prepared, except one. “When did you decide that you wanted to become a PTA?” She took her time before responding, and then said, “That is a very good question. I didn’t always want to be a PTA you know? The truth is that when I graduated from high school I was not sure about what I wanted to do with my life. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to travel, and it suddenly hit me that I could do that by being a flight attendant. I worked as an attendant for two years and it was an amazing experience, but I fell in love, and as they say, the rest is history. I got married and settled in Bossier City, Louisiana. I could no longer commute to and from Dallas and so I needed an alternative to being a flight attendant.” She paused, looked at me, and smiled. She clearly could see my confusion. I asked her how she transitioned from being a flight attendant to something as different as being a PTA. She laughed.
“It’s not really that different, you know? What I most loved about being a flight attendant was not travelling the world. Maybe at first, but it soon became clear to me that what I most loved was making sure people travelled safely and comfortably. I realized I could make a positive difference in people’s lives and this just filled my heart. I was 27 years old when I became a PTA and have been doing it ever since. I love it and if I could go back I would choose the same career path. Not everything is money, you know? There are better and greater things in life, such as love, family, and helping others.”
Mrs. Blank walked me to the front door; she hugged me and wished me all the best. As I made my way back home I realized she was the embodiment of vocation. This was a woman that was completely dedicated to her work and her patients. She loved everything about being a PTA, and this was truly inspiring to see. This woman was devoted to making other people’s lives better, and her life choices allowed her to do this by administering physical therapy and allowing them to regain their physical mobility. Vocation is love, commitment, and sacrifice, all of which are values Kimberly Blank admirably conveyed.
