Author's posts
If you think a mother’s pain is unimaginable, you should see her strength
“If you think a mother’s pain is unimaginable, you should see her strength.” You were visiting your mother when, while in another room, you became unresponsive and fell to the floor. She heard the thump of your fall and raced into the…
Behind every patient is a powerful story
A few years back, I took care of a frail elderly gentleman who, accompanied by his wife, had come to the ER with an elbow injury after tripping over a curb in front of a local restaurant. They had been traveling from Buffalo to Cleveland and had stoppe…
How blessed was I to witness this true love story
The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little … I noticed the two of them shortly after I arrived for my shift. I was standing at the counter, immersed in a chart, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw them walk out of their t…
Letting a loved one witness resuscitation
The patient arrived in cardiac arrest. He had been brought to our emergency department in the middle of the night. Although he had a significant cardiac history, including bypass surgery, he was only in his late 40s. His transport from his house to our…
A doctor’s moment of painful tenderness
I walked into Room 30 to find two eager sets of eyes awaiting me. One set belonged to a young man, late-20s, muscular and imposing, sitting in a chair in the corner of the room. His eyes were hazel brown, big and inviting, relieved at seeing my entry i…
Corona together: Say “I love you” a little bit more to those you love
This breath is a gift … This moment is a gift … This life is a gift … As with every other person, I am struggling to comprehend the staggering effects that COVID-19 has had on our society in such a short time. Gone are the carefree sm…
This is a real problem in our ER. This is a real problem nationwide.
One of the largest problems in our ER, it seems, is that there is a subset of patients who visit us on a routine basis. Commonly known as “the regulars,” these familiar faces are sprinkled throughout our day between all our other patient vi…
A family’s cry: a life-changing case for the ER staff
“The death of a child is the single most traumatic event in medicine. To lose a child is to lose a piece of yourself.” I walked into work yesterday morning, and it only took seconds to appreciate the immense sorrow and sadness that permeate…
When Dr. Pimple Popper teaches us something more
Several years ago, my daughter Emma introduced me to some videos on YouTube of a dermatologist from California who posted her sometimes shocking but always intriguing encounters with patients who suffered from a variety of dermatologic issues. Of all o…
The man who defecated outside the ER
“Sometimes sh*t just happens.” Just a few days ago, I finished yet another string of four hectic shifts in the ER of our incredibly busy trauma center. After saying my goodbyes to my coworkers and transferring the care of my remaining patie…
- 1
- 2
