| The Clinician's Story of Serious Illness | |
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"It's just about that exchange of energy and information, and the connection." |
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| This drawing was made by a nurse whose
focus has been on supporting the family caregivers of people with serious
illness. The darkness in the background of the image represents patients living
in an altered life due to disease. The two hands joined by shooting colors
represent the connection and exchange between professional caretakers and
patients and family. As the nurse explained, "I did this so that some of their
color is coming back to me and some of mine was going into them." |
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"All patients are looking for someone to listen or help them negotiate the system." |
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This
caregiver kept asking these questions over and over again "What can we do to
help? What can I do to help? Will love and connection help? Strong roots that
represent all the patients that have come in to her life and the wide branches
of the trees that protect them. |
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"It's really eye opening for what's left after the doctor and patient talk." |
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| A physician focused on caring for people at the end of life drew this picture. The white spiral represents the growth, connection, and passion that are possible even as the end of life nears. White is a color of hope. The white spiral is the hope that a surrounding community can mean for a person who is facing illness. The energy of life also is manifested in the wavy lines, intersecting in a world enlivened by presence and connection. |
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"I was walking with people and their souls while they talked about death." |
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As a caregiver, there is the sense
of wanting to protect and take care of all the patients that cross our paths.
These trees protect and hold all the pain, joy, anger and hope in all the
faces of those that suffer. |
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"Even knowing now what they need, I don't know how to provide it." |
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| To the Patient's/Family's Story... | |
