THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024 - SCARED OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas Story -  2024

Christmas was hard for Dr. Ahmad Karzai.

He had been a doctor in Afghanistan who had managed to escape when the Taliban took over.   Unfortunately, his wife and two-year-old daughter were tortured and killed. 

He was one of the lucky ones, although he might not agree with that. In the chaos of the last days of the war, United Nations forces helped hundreds of people escape the intolerant Taliban 

 In the United States, he was relocated to Houston Texas. He took the required courses in American medicine, English language, cultural awareness, and whatever else to be certified as a Family Care doctor.  

But, jobs were scarce for an Alghani in Texas.  His English was “good enough,” although heavily accented.  His skills and knowledge were reasonable.  During his residency at Houston General Hospital, he spent evenings watching prescribed American movies, television shows, magazines, and books.  He learned about football and American sports.  In Afghanistan, he was a nominal Muslim - having the prayer rug and following the rudiments of his faith (like many in Kabul) - not an important part of his life.  There was an Afghani support group in Houston that helped ease the adjustment. But he needed to find a job and get his life back. 

He had applied to eighty medical clinics and hospitals and got only two interviews.  He was only a finalist at one place - the Stratford Family Medical Clinic in Stratford, Texas.  It had taken him twelve hours to drive his 1995 Honda to Stratford.  He had gotten stares at the Stratford Inn -  which, according to the rating services, was a one-star hotel.  

Stratford was definitely off the beaten path.  

Ahmad didn’t quite realize that when he arrived at the Stratford Family Medical Clinic at 8:45 on Tuesday August 15, 2023.  There was a sign in the lobby, “Welcome Dr. Karzai”.  The receptionist was so friendly.  She greeted him warmly, and within five minutes, there were four people around him.  The hospital administrator, Richard McCarthy, anesthetist Sara Winter, head of nursing Tina Martinez, as well as the receptionist, Helen Osman.  Mr. McCarthy welcomed Ahmad and gave him an itinerary of the interview process and day activities.  

Ahmad gave the itinerary a quick glance - it was a day full of activities - including lunch, tour of the community, tour of the clinic and the hospital.  There were coffee breaks, and restroom breaks.  He thought maybe it was going to be a couple of hours of interviews about his background and skills.  He had submitted various recommendations from his residency work and the staff that helped him adjust to the United States and Texas.

All four of the Stratford staff and Ahmad started in a conference room.  A “Welcome Dr. Karzai” sign was on the wall.  There were eight kinds of hot tea and various pastries.  All but Sara Winter had tea, she had a bottle of water with her.  

Each of the staff introduced themselves.  Ahmad had been told he would have a fifteen-minute presentation, and he started that at about 9:30.  The four staff persons eagerly listened to his presentation. After the presentation, Tina asked him about communication with nurses and medical staff.  Richard did an overview of the Clinic and Stratford’s finances and asked him if he had ideas for additional services.

He had the clinic tour, and Richard McCarthy walked the two blocks to the hospital with him. Richard explained that the hospital and clinic had merged about twelve years ago and functioned well.  The hospital was small to Ahmad after his experiences in Afghanistan and in Houston.  It had thirty beds.  Richard explained that some of the beds were used for hospice patients.  There was a small surgical center.  Tina explained that most significant surgeries were sent to Armallio, but they set broken arms and other minor surgeries in their hospital.  Sara Winter briefly said, “Hi”.  She was prepping a high school volleyball girl for a broken finger.  

Lunch included the Major of Stratford, the School Superintendent, Richard, and Tina.  

The community tour was pretty short - a town of about 2,000 people didn’t take long.  Tina gave the tour and stopped at the Living Texas Real Estate office.  Buzz Sawyer greeted Ahmad warmly and gave him an idea of both apartments and houses in the Stratford area.  

*****

Richard McCarthy offered a position as a general practitioner at the Stratford Family Medical Center/Stratford Hospital.  The salary was reasonable.  Ahmad knew that interviews and offers were limited to him.  Mr. McCarthy gave Ahmad a week to get back to accepting the position. 

*****

Ahmad did accept the offer.  He rented a U-Haul trailer to bring his few belongings to Stratford.  When he arrived at his new apartment, there were several people there to help him move in.

*****

The position was adapted to give him appropriate time off for Ramadan, and other traditional Muslim holidays.  

While there were a few people in the town who weren’t friendly, most were.  He learned that the small clinic and community hospital were in danger of closing and his hiring was necessary.

Helen and John Osman took him under their wings. He soon became a part of their family. At least one dinner a week, plus going to Stratford High School volleyball games (the Osman’s granddaughter played) were part of his routine.  

Some weekends, Helen and John watched their four-year-old granddaughter Melissa (although was generally called Missy). Ahmad loved playing tea parties with Missy. 

In September, Ahmad drove to Lubbock twice as there was a Muslim support group there with students from Texas Tech University. He felt out of place. Most of the students were Arabs, and some were radical and militant.

Ahman joined the Stratford Community Recreation Center and played basketball frequently.  He joined a community band (he was a percussionist). Richard McCarthy and his family had a son who played football, and he sat with them and cheered on the Stratford Elks.

*****

But, as Christmas approached, he felt out of place as people said “Merry Christmas” to him.  At first, he didn’t know how to answer the question, but Richard suggested that he just say “Merry Christmas” back.  

And, on Christmas Day, Helen Osman invited Ahmad to her house for dinner and to watch football games.  

He felt their love and acceptance. 

*****

Ahmed had time to reflect on how well he had been accepted.  He had realized that he was a stranger in this area.  The community had gone out of their way to make him welcome.  

He remembered something Helen had said about ‘loving their neighbors’. 

*****

Friends, yes, I am a Christian - that is called to LOVE all people.  I am not God.  I believe that God is Merciful, Forgiving, Infinite, and Loving.  Is Dr. Karzai (and others that aren’t Christian) going to heaven? That’s a theology question beyond me.  I am to LOVE all.  

Some people say “Love came down at Christmas”.  How are you bringing love and acceptance to others?  (And how are they in accepting of you?).  Are you loving your neighbor?  

*****

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Merry Christmas/Happy New Year/Happy Hanukkah /Seasons Greetings. 

Karen Anne White, December 26, 2024