Break me down, then build me up – a reflection of radiation therapy effects on person and mind.
This piece portrays an imagined screenshot from a radiation planning program, including dosimetry lines and markers targeted toward a central brain tumour. The dissolving and crumbling pixels are meant as an interpretation of radiation effects on person and mind. Sophisticated physics and software allow for precise targeting of radiation towards an area of interest, with the intent […]
The Fridge
A painting of a boy looking into a fridge that I did while thinking about child malnutrition. It makes me really sad that there are so many children living in poverty in our province, who face hunger and poor nutrition (see http://still1in5.ca/). I love that in medicine we have the opportunity to advocate for and invest in the young people in […]
A thought on the Arts at UBC Medicine
I was fortunate to have $20 to get into the 21st Spring Gala yesterday night. Amidst all the wonderfully cheeky, geeky humour, the buzzword during the show was, undoubtedly, talent. I suspect that the word “talent” would have been use with the same frequency even if all the acts had bombed. Happily, all acts left the stage unscathed – […]
A look back forward
A self reflection piece for the White Coat Warm Art Exhibit, experimenting with different media and dimensions to portray dimensions of time and space. A young medical student looks towards the future with nervous anticipation. 20 years pass. She’s become an experienced physician, her slight smile says “if only she knew it would all be […]
Even on Saturday
I just finished this poem after a rather frustrating period of feeling overly self-absorbed and subsequently finding myself in a less than compassionate space. I watch you hang up. Slowly. You’ve just finished confirming it again: “I’ll see you tomorrow. 8:30.” But tomorrow, I note, is Saturday. I’ve just double checked to make sure, Forever […]
On curiosity
The harbour seal bobs, tilts, eyes. Its appearance silky, Slides amongst waves. A presence which denotes curiosity: “What the heck are those black animals doing freestyle?” Its being more accustomed to tanked, oxygenated deep divers. Above and below surface, It explores. It questions. Flips and turns, bubbles and bobs. Dynamic question marks, Inn-acted with fins. […]
Narratives 2 (The Narrative of CaRMS)
This isn’t art-fully presented (yet perhaps), but a sketch of some memories I want to remember that are quickly fading. The narrative of 3 weeks. Reflected. Of meeting new friends, Some recognized from the big screen, Or from cities in our collective past, Mere few days or few flights back. Site visits at local gluten-free […]
Narratives
I’m reminded of texture Today, as light reflects. Off grass stalks straight, Cedar hedges scaled wild. And context – The here now why how. How narrative weaves The text of texture, context. The lightness, darkness, in between, Gives voice to both. Or rather all. The here now why how. Those stories and feelings, Reflecting more. […]
Untitled
Some gen surg haikus for you The scent of bowel Is hideous and lingers But also there is awe The nature of ego Is poison to a wound To cut or to cure? Consent? What a joke The operation mystifies What is the answer? Smile in the morning Start a patient’s day out right Dawn […]
SNOW
* This poem and photo are anonymous contributions from our Northern colleague in the NMP SNOW NMP author – anonymous I have come to know you As a breathe of the seasons As the constancy I look to in my life Like your perfectly shaped crystals That gently remind me Me and daddy sliding down […]
Reflections on Life 2
The curves are simple, Beautiful. A mound. Sits silent, illuminated. Painted with purple, While red drips. A growing being, 34 weeks? Beyond? Time ambiguous, The curves, Life’s bends, Overwhelm. Pregnancy confirmed. Bleeding, Beating, Bodies muddle, gown. In quiet, blade waits. Since words fumble, Questions abandoned, Silent respects. Resiliency, despite. The strength in those curves.
Musings From The North Wind
coral girl sitting on the edge of a cliff hair slowly shedding, nails ripped away lines mapping a birdlike face, thinned and yellow papyrus we push, you pull a playground tug of war or are we soldiers, blocking the charge riot shield stopping the longest fall to swim the depths below, every […]
Status quo
It angered me this am, While relaying your story to my staff physician, That when I said you were Aboriginal, It seemed to legitimize The fact that you’re here, The fact that you’re dying Too early, just like 3 of your siblings already. With a heart that’s tired, Vessels clogged, ravaged by toxic levels of […]
Sometimes I Wonder
I wonder sometimes, Between 3am ward calls, And figuring out Abx dosing – Never mind what bugs we’re fighting… How you’re doing, Beyond jokes about hospital food, A great view, a good book. I wonder how you feel when I ask you What you know and why you’re here, And you respond “my heart’s on […]
A rash
I remember today why I love medicine, Why I chose this life, Which regularly has me questioning my own sanity. On my last week of 3rd year. In dermatology [an unexpected spot for insight]. Though to call it medicine, Without hesitation is a misnomer – I prefer the social[slash]medicinal side of things, Which rarely, though […]
Grief
heaving sobs raw wound exposed snot and tears soaking my shoulder holding tight, holding on howling, guttural paroxysms coming in waves hiccupping for breath then spent
Yes, I bleed.
This was written after reflecting on a long gynecology call shift… Yes, I bleed. Or rather I used to, Until this thing was inserted into my vagina. An Intrauterine System, they call it. Or Merena, if you prefer a softer, more human name. And my monthly flow, moontime, as you will – Well, that now […]
Wow, the residents talk fast.
Of places we need to be, times we need to note. Topics we need to know, acronyms we yet don’t. Such that we type them into our brain phones. Tap tap tap like starving woodpeckers probe wood for worms, As if this slippery sustenance of knowledge could Replace the companion on each new rotation: A […]
If someone were to ask me.
If someone were to ask me how I’m doing right now. I’d have to pause. I’d have to take a moment to go looking for phone books. The old school ones with white and yellow, and maybe pink? – It’s been so long. I don’t even know if they still make them anymore. Or maybe […]