The Illusion of Impermeability

by Laura PatelAs I sat in my hospice interdisciplinary group meeting, reviewing the many patients who have died in the past two weeks as well as our new patients, there was a slight break in the discussion. Being ever the multitasker, Iclicked on a NY Times article I have been meaning to read and scanned the first two sentences: “When my husband died from cancer last March at age 37, I was so grief-stricken I could barely sleep. One afternoon, I visited his grave — in a field high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the Pacific Ocean — and lay on top of it. I slept more soundly than I had in weeks.” Suddenly, I felt sharp tears forming and a sob threatening to release itself. I quickly closed the article and came back to the present moment, discussing the complexities of our patients and families.After the meeting was over, I retreated to my office and closed the door. Ireopened this beautiful essay written by Dr. Lucy Kalanithi, whose young physician husband died from lung cancer. His book“When Breath Becomes Air” was released earlier this year. She tells of their life together, his life-changing diagnosis, and the unbearable grief she felt after he died. I found myself with tears streaming down my face, deeply moved.Working in the field of hospice, we are continually reminded of the fragility of life. We walk down the road of grief, loss, pain, fear, and acceptance with all of our patients every day. We have to maintain an ability to be present while mainta...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: kalanithi patel Source Type: blogs