Taj Moore is a particularly sensitive person. She recently cared for my husband.
The medical team recommended that my husband have an MRI in order to provide additional information to aid in making a diagnosis of his condition. M absolutely refused to have the test, stating that he was claustrophobic and that the standard MRI machine was very confining. The doctors and I tried to persuade him, to no avail.
About an hour later, Taj came to the room and sat down near M. She began talking quietly about the benefits of having the test; I then left the room, taking a long walk around the hospital. When I returned, the conversation had turned to the dimensions of a special MRI machine, designed to accommodate larger-sized individuals. (My husband is very thin.) Taj spoke softly and M listened intently to her comments. I again left the room, feeling that the warm rapport that Taj had established would be disrupted by my presence.
When I returned, about 30 minutes later, my husband was relaxed and told me "I will have the test!" He described the special MRI machine in which he would be placed, and he also commented that Taj would give him medication that would dispel his anxiety. He added that she would arrange for me to accompany him to the radiation department.
It was plain that Taj had inspired M's complete confidence with her gentle manner and recognition of his uneasiness. She won his trust by calming his real fear and substituting alternatives that appealed to my husband's logical self.
The proof of her sensitivity and expertise was that my husband completely relaxed after Taj administered a small dose of Ativan. In fact, he slept through the entire MRT test.
Taj is a young woman, but her expertise in managing an uneasy patient was that of a skilled psychologist. She was able to sense his anxiety and gently allay his distress by suggesting creative solutions to his problem, accompanied by a sympathetic recognition of his very real fear. This was a remarkable achievement.