(One of the great things about writing on Twitter is the ability to have fun with the uniqueness of the medium.
This thread is a little different from my usual threads.
Each tweet is linked to the one before it, but self-contained. Each tweet is its own independent snapshot.)
This thread is a little different from my usual threads.
Each tweet is linked to the one before it, but self-contained. Each tweet is its own independent snapshot.)
Past
and future coexist.
An attending makes his rounds, followed by a team of students and residents.
They move from bedside to bedside.
Some patients are getting better, and some are getting worse. Everyone is cared for.
There is a rhythm to the rounds.
A rhythm to
Life
and future coexist.
An attending makes his rounds, followed by a team of students and residents.
They move from bedside to bedside.
Some patients are getting better, and some are getting worse. Everyone is cared for.
There is a rhythm to the rounds.
A rhythm to
Life
Life
comes at you fast. She sighs as she keeps her vigil at her son’s bedside.
Two weeks ago he was playing college sports.
Now his muscles are under attack. A reaction to an infection, they think.
Guillain-Barré syndrome.
She says it out loud, and tries to
Understand
comes at you fast. She sighs as she keeps her vigil at her son’s bedside.
Two weeks ago he was playing college sports.
Now his muscles are under attack. A reaction to an infection, they think.
Guillain-Barré syndrome.
She says it out loud, and tries to
Understand
“Understand
that this is what medicine is all about. You’re not here to FIX everyone. You can’t do that. Nobody can.”
A resident counsels an intern.
His confidence is shaken, but the calm words from the senior resident are soothing.
He will learn from this, and find
Peace
that this is what medicine is all about. You’re not here to FIX everyone. You can’t do that. Nobody can.”
A resident counsels an intern.
His confidence is shaken, but the calm words from the senior resident are soothing.
He will learn from this, and find
Peace
Peace
doesn’t come easy.
She can’t sleep in the hospital. The IV irritates her arm. Someone is always waking her up.
She’s trying to be kind, to be civil. But she’s losing patience.
When they again come to draw blood one morning she finally snaps,
“Leave me
Alone!”
doesn’t come easy.
She can’t sleep in the hospital. The IV irritates her arm. Someone is always waking her up.
She’s trying to be kind, to be civil. But she’s losing patience.
When they again come to draw blood one morning she finally snaps,
“Leave me
Alone!”
Alone
is where you’ll find him, most nights after work.
Many of his colleagues go out together, as the bonds of their camaraderie deepen. But he withdraws into himself.
The truth is he’s burning out.
Sometimes he wonders. Was going into medicine the right
Decision?
is where you’ll find him, most nights after work.
Many of his colleagues go out together, as the bonds of their camaraderie deepen. But he withdraws into himself.
The truth is he’s burning out.
Sometimes he wonders. Was going into medicine the right
Decision?
“Decision
time. We need to choose where we go from here. You know our recommendation, but the decision is yours.”
He listens to the physician sitting at the foot of his bed.
He knows the route he wants to pursue. But he can’t make the call.
The fact is he’s just
Scared
time. We need to choose where we go from here. You know our recommendation, but the decision is yours.”
He listens to the physician sitting at the foot of his bed.
He knows the route he wants to pursue. But he can’t make the call.
The fact is he’s just
Scared
Scared
of the awesome responsibility, the intern has a recurring nightmare.
She’s sitting at a table, for morning report. But the rest of the people sitting at the table are patients, not house staff.
They level a thousand accusations at her.
She wakes up in a cold
Sweat
of the awesome responsibility, the intern has a recurring nightmare.
She’s sitting at a table, for morning report. But the rest of the people sitting at the table are patients, not house staff.
They level a thousand accusations at her.
She wakes up in a cold
Sweat
“Sweat
it out!” The fitness trainer on the screen exhorts him.
He dutifully pedals in place, on the stationary bike. He hasn’t been feeling well for a while. Internship.
He hoped the gym would help, but now he’s feeling dizzy.
As he starts to pass out, he cries for
Help
it out!” The fitness trainer on the screen exhorts him.
He dutifully pedals in place, on the stationary bike. He hasn’t been feeling well for a while. Internship.
He hoped the gym would help, but now he’s feeling dizzy.
As he starts to pass out, he cries for
Help
Help
is just a phone call away.
He knows his attending is reachable by phone anytime, but it’s 3AM, and he doesn’t want to be chewed out.
The fellow sighs, and looks into the ICU room. Things are worsening.
What to do?
He picks up the phone, breathes in, and makes the
Call
is just a phone call away.
He knows his attending is reachable by phone anytime, but it’s 3AM, and he doesn’t want to be chewed out.
The fellow sighs, and looks into the ICU room. Things are worsening.
What to do?
He picks up the phone, breathes in, and makes the
Call
“Call
me, now.”
She looks at the text message, as she lies in the hospital bed, her room lit only by the sickly glow of her TV.
Her family was never close, but was that really a choice they all made?
They don’t know she’s sick right now.
She wants to call.
But she
Doesn’t
me, now.”
She looks at the text message, as she lies in the hospital bed, her room lit only by the sickly glow of her TV.
Her family was never close, but was that really a choice they all made?
They don’t know she’s sick right now.
She wants to call.
But she
Doesn’t
“Doesn’t
matter what you want, sir, I’m opening these curtains! Your sleep-wake cycle is messed up. We’re gonna fix that!”
The CNA is cheerful as he flings open the curtains and let’s the sunlight stream into the room.
The patient groans loudly.
“Ugh, don’t be so
Cruel!”
matter what you want, sir, I’m opening these curtains! Your sleep-wake cycle is messed up. We’re gonna fix that!”
The CNA is cheerful as he flings open the curtains and let’s the sunlight stream into the room.
The patient groans loudly.
“Ugh, don’t be so
Cruel!”
Cruel
realities, and everyday kindnesses.
Stories being told, stories being written. Life, in a hospital.
The physician looks over his patient list, as the team disbands after rounds to get to work.
He remembers the path that brought him here.
He remembers his
Past
realities, and everyday kindnesses.
Stories being told, stories being written. Life, in a hospital.
The physician looks over his patient list, as the team disbands after rounds to get to work.
He remembers the path that brought him here.
He remembers his
Past
Past
and future coexist.
An attending makes his rounds, followed by a team of students and residents.
They move from bedside to bedside.
Some patients are getting better, and some are getting worse. Everyone is cared for.
There is a rhythm to the rounds.
A rhythm to
Life.
and future coexist.
An attending makes his rounds, followed by a team of students and residents.
They move from bedside to bedside.
Some patients are getting better, and some are getting worse. Everyone is cared for.
There is a rhythm to the rounds.
A rhythm to
Life.
