Doreen was doing rounds in one of the hospitals when she encountered a woman named Maureen. She was a really good golfer. Doreen, who had just started golfing herself, talked about how much she loved swinging her clubs. Maureen asked her to show her swing – it was a baseball/soccer/java throwing kind of a swing. “You need a little help with that,” she said. Doreen asked her to help. Maureen said, “Well I’m here at this time every day so come by one time.”

Three days later, Doreen showed up with her 7 Iron and really surprised her. “Why did you bring that club?” She asked. Doreen was really embarrassed. She had never asked anything of any cancer patient before; she was angry with herself for taking advantage of such a quiet woman. “You need a club – I have my cane,” she said, laughing.

With her cane, she gave Doreen her first golf swinging lesson right there in the radio-oncology waiting room, with everyone watching. Soon enough, she was teaching a doctor how to master a smooth golf swing.

After multiple lessons, the two became friends. Maureen represents all the silent patients who quietly accept their treatment, never complain, never ask for anything, are always helpful to staff and always make the best of whatever this difficult battle demands. Quiet, private courage.