Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson died on Thursday night.

I am distraught.

When I was little I was completely obsessed with him.
I used to dress up like him, wore plasters on my fingers like him and curled my hair like him. Sometimes I believed I was him.
I used to sneak his tapes into class and listen to them surreptitiously on my walkman. Once, I was caught being naughty, and was told to stand up and explain myself in front of everyone. To prove a point, my eleven year old self climbed on top of the desk and danced like Michael Jackson instead.

What does this have to do with medicine? Not much. I just wanted to remember him on my blog. He was a huge part of my childhood. And I'm going to miss him. Despite the scandals he was the most phenomenal artist. Ever. We will NEVER see the likes of him again.

Heal the world.

Here is a little story I'd like to share with you, which does actually relate my Michael Jackson mourning to the community health centres...

My colleague and dear friend, Dr MJ ( yes, her initials are also those of Michael Jackson's) was my clinical partner and great friend throughout medical school. Thus, I have been privy to the bizarre behaviour she displays when having to go long periods without sleep.

Most of us get tired and grumpy, Dr MJ gets silly. Really goofy and silly.

She was on call, at a day hospital similar to the one I work at, not too far from ours, on the night that Michael Jackson died.

At about 4am, manic from lack of sleep, she decided that it was her duty to walk into the waiting room and make an announcement.

This is how it went:

Dr MJ: "Verskoon my, maar is julle bewus dat Michael Jackson gister aand gesterf het?"

Excuse me , but are you aware that Michael Jackson died last night?"


The patients,some on IV lines, some with possible heart attacks or twisted bowels, were more shocked that the doctor was in the waiting room than by the actual news. They seemed to forget their woes and just nodded there heads sadly, "ja dokter, ja dokter" (Yes doctor, yes doctor.)

Not satisfied with their bland response she then went on...

Dr MJ: "Kan ons aseblief nou 'n minuut stilte hou vir Michael Jackson"

Can we please now have a minute's silence for Michael Jackson.

AND THEY ACTUALLY OBEYED HER! They all sat there quietly, bleeding and aching at 4am in the morning, for one full minute.

Dr MJ is officialy my new hero(ine).

How peculiar is that?

Such is the greatness of Michael Jackson!
Long live the King of Pop!