The patient becomes the helper

The inspiring “Kind World” series produced by Boston's public radio station looks for “stories of kindness and the profound effect that one act can have on our lives.” No one should be surprised that WBUR recently found a subject from the world of addiction treatment, in the story of a recovering man and the former counselor who once had dared to reach out to him.

Kevin Davis was losing most everything he valued in life to crack cocaine in the 1990s, until he found his way to a treatment program and was assigned (reluctantly at the time) to no-nonsense counselor Frank Fisher, who Davis says “cared enough to tell you the truth.” Fisher ultimately would inspire Davis to pursue his own career in counseling, and Davis eventually would run the treatment program that had helped save him.

The two men stayed in touch well after Fisher retired, but then Davis learned that Fisher had relocated to a nursing home because he had been afflicted with dementia. Now the formerly gruff counselor had become a sometimes angry patient, and it was Davis's turn to extend a hand. On one of his first visits he gave Fisher a shower because the former counselor wouldn't allow the nurses to shower him, and now that routine is part of Davis's weekly visits to the nursing home.

There's much more to the story of these two professionals, and you can read it here. If winter doldrums have set in for you, or you simply need a jolt of early-week inspiration, I promise that reading this will work wonders.