Just a few things some of my hospital patients have said lately: Forty year old woman: “I’m not worried about the cancer coming back.  Been through that already.   I’m over the fear.  I’m lucky; some people never get over it.” Fifty-year old woman: “BRA-A-I-N surgery tomorrow.  They shaved all these patches out of my hair [...]

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I’m still studying for my medical boards recertification which is in three weeks.  I’m re-reviewing material I’ve mostly forgotten since the beginning of the year, like spent spells in a wizard’s repertoire.  [Warning!  Nerd alert!  Geek overload!]  Per 1st edition Dungeon & Dragon rules, one has to memorize that stuff over and over again.  It [...]

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“Hi Mr. Brown,” I said as I entered my new patient’s room.  The old man sat in a chair looking out at the construction crew tearing down the old hospital wing. “Doctor Brown,” the old man corrected. “Oh, right, I read that,” I slid a chair in front of him, “How are you feeling today?” [...]

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(picture above not directly related to entry) July.  The most dangerous month of the year to be in the hospital, but also the month with the freshest faces. The interns with bright coats and loaded pockets rush from room to nurse to computer to attending, trying to stay afloat in the miasmal maelstrom. One of the new nurses pops [...]

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I’m sorry…? I just called to … tell you it wasn’t my fault?  To see how you were doing?  Express my condolences?  (What does that even mean?  Does anyone ever express just a single condolence?) No, I don’t know how things changed so quickly.  Or why we couldn’t stop it. No.  I don’t know what [...]

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