Cause and Effect

It is a simple and mostly overlooked item. That does not mean it is not an important one. It is your car keys. With advancement in technologies, they are increasingly becoming contactless, but their presence is still required. You can call me old school, but I enjoy the feel of the keys in my hand and take pleasure in the simple phenomenon of cause (pressing a button or turning a key) and effect (desired response such as unlocking or locking). Today, I took a moment to hold my keychain, which I consider just as important emotionally to me as the keys are functionally to their purpose. Cars have come and gone from my life, but the keychains have stayed for the past sixteen years. They continue to hold a special and scared place in my heart while playing the key role in circadian tasks of primary interactions with my car for needs of transportation to and from work. The keychains are that of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the neighboring Ronald McDonald House – key chains I purchased a decade and half ago, when our child was born with a birth defect that required us to seek treatment at children’s hospitals for several years.

The words and the logo on the keychains have faded and in some cases, the logos have even changed, but the memories of our journey are forever etched into my brain and my soul. We tend to credit organizations like hospitals and care facilities for the purpose they serve to society and humanity. However, it is equally important to acknowledge the role of the people in these organizations who use their knowledge, talent, passion and resourcefulness to translate their work into outcomes with the cooperation and engagement of the patients and their families. When meshed together appropriately, they (organization, employees, patients, families, support systems) work in harmony and every so often even generate miracles. Cause and effect. The cycle continues.