Patients As Educators What We Can Learn from the Patient- the Story of a Multiple Sclerosis Patient in Taiwan

Narrative medicine is intended to present patients' illness stories regarding their sufferings. It can be helpful in portraying complete and authentic pictures of illness, and can also enhance the resilience of patients and physicians. Purpose: Based on this theory, this study sought to chronicle the story of a multiple sclerosis patient in Taiwan who initially presented with acute left optic neuritis 29 years ago. Methods: The audio of an in-depth interview was recorded after obtaining the patient's written consent, and was then transcribed verbatim. Immersion and crystallization was used to develop the themes of the interview. Results: The themes that emerged via the immersion and crystallization were as follows: ＂how Taiwanese culture resulted in the decision to delay treatment for a total loss of left eye vision lasting five days,＂ ＂the rationales underlying the differing opinions of relatives,＂ ＂the real impacts of the disease,＂ ＂how resilience is built in patients and physicians,＂ ＂why traditional Chinese acupuncture is popular in Taiwan,＂ and ＂how trust was built in this patient's relationship with her doctor.＂ Through the patient's storytelling, we learned not only about her physical suffering but also about the psycho-social impacts of her illness. Her narrative also revealed how traditional Taiwanese culture has shaped her mental status and even helped to build her resilience. Conclusions: Moreover, developing narrative competency might assist us in our daily practice and also help clinicians and patients to be resilient when facing suffering and fighting off illnesses together.