SCHOOL OF MEDICINE & THE CLASSROOM OF LIFE
This morning Natalie and I were invited to speak to 4th year medical students who are about to enter their residencies. We were asked to share our son's story and put a face to patients. We shared our perspective as parents who were thrust into a medical system that was as bewildering as it was alien.
It was hard. I had to fight my emotions; I just wanted to go in the corner, turn off the lights and cry. But cave dwelling is not an option and telling our son's story is something that must be done.
On the other side of medicine are people with families; there are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and many more who cling to their loved ones. We pointed to the amazing doctors who helped our son and family - people who understood the practice of medicine and the practice of compassion.
Being human, and standing on the other side of the practice of medicine, I am persuaded we must learn how to treat the body as well as care for the soul.
Because when medicine fails us, all we have left is love. And at the end of the day, I suppose that is why we practice medicine in the first place ... so we can save the ones we love.
----------
Note: I recorded our presentations and will post videos of them soon.