Resilient Spirit: Determination, faith, and strength help doctor get back to work after serious accident

Recently, The Meadows Psychiatric Center received a special letter of appreciation written by a 14-year-old patient.

“Dear Dr. Begum, I am writing this note to thank you. You are the best psychiatrist I have ever had. … You helped me find myself. You helped me to be more positive and lastly, you helped me be happy. … I hope you continue to be the great doctor you are, despite your accident. This accident doesn’t define who you are…”

Patients often write special notes to their healthcare heroes. However, Dr. Sultana Begum’s actual day-to-day life and her ongoing struggles are why her story is so encouraging. During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, we need to focus on the spirit’s resiliency.

On February 9, 2018, Dr. Begum was driving to a family wedding in Virginia. Somewhere along a Maryland road, Dr. Begum pulled onto the roadside to switch driving with her husband. Before they were able to return to their car, a pickup truck struck them. She remembers the EMTs cutting away her clothing, gowning her, and starting an IV until the helicopter arrived to fly her to the closest trauma center.

At that point, Dr. Begum was no longer the doctor, but the patient; the patient with broken pelvises, a broken pubis bone, and fractured vertebrae in her lower back. Dr. Begum spent weeks in ICU, suffered through several surgeries, and then spent months in a nursing home until she was able to bear any weight. Throughout this, she staunchly refused pain medication stronger than Tylenol.

Dr. Begum describes one moment where she transferred herself to a bedside commode and sobbed uncontrollably. She shook herself and realized that the sadness she felt would destroy all the progress that she had made. Dr. Begum pushed through countless hours of physical therapy and home healthcare. Only a year and a half after the accident, her determination, faith, and strength allowed her to return to work as The Meadows’ adolescent psychiatrist.

During adversity such as this pandemic, Dr. Begum shares:

Connect with family or friends. Be supportive of each other. Dr. Begum enjoys her Saturday dinners with family. She says, “I am so grateful for them.” She credits her husband, six sisters, nieces, nephews, and three children for getting through each day.

Give grace. Allow yourself to lessen your expectations of yourself and others a bit. It is hard to adapt to new circumstances, whether that is a trauma or a pandemic.

Move your body. Dr. Begum says, “My body needs charged and I must exercise daily to manage pain. It is important for managing personal stress.”

Practice mindfulness. Being mindful helps us to slow down, reduces anxiety, and it can help us to focus on what is truly important. Dr. Begum credits her strong faith and prayer with her “glass-is-half-full” philosophy. She believes that “your attitude and outlook is the key.”

Focus on learning. Dr. Begum studied for her board certification to stay focused during recuperation. She encourages you to challenge yourself and find something to enjoy.

Find your new normal. Dr. Begum’s new normal meant giving up her favorite shoe collection. We feel better when we can get our bearings, find our resources, and create productive routines. Be patient; those things take time. 

Be productive. Sure, binge-watch some movies or shows that you have been dying to see, and yes, Dr. Begum did that too. “You don’t have to be super-productive all the time, but be motivated.”

Consider how you can contribute. Now more than ever, be thankful. Dr. Begum wants to give to her patients, but feels honored by how much she, in turn, gets from them. 

Seek help if needed. Sometimes, you cannot do it alone! Dr. Begum believes that you are the key to your own recovery and that resiliency is not something you have, resiliency is what you do.

The Meadows is proud to have Sultana Begum, M.D., as our acting medical director; she is a true dedicated healthcare hero.

 

The Meadows Psychiatric Center is a 119-bed psychiatric hospital in Centre Hall serving children, adolescents, and adults who are in immediate mental health need. The facility offers no-cost assessments for anyone needing to seek help. For more information, visit themeadows.net or call 1-800-641-7529.