7 Comments
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Nancy D's avatar

I can completely empathize with your experience. It’s hard enough to lose a loved one but the health care system adds another level of trauma to the whole ordeal. Take it one day at a time.

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Peter Blinky's avatar

Your essay is deeply moving and bravely honest. It captures the complexities of grief with raw emotion and sharp insight. Thank you for sharing such a personal journey

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Kevin Delaney's avatar

Powerful, unflinchingly honest, and beautifully written. Thank you for sharing, MP!

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Hippiesq's avatar

A lot to connect to here, and so beautifully written.

My favorite part was the acknowledgement that we often want different things at different moments (or maybe even at the same moment) after a loved one dies or some other catastrophic event unfolds. Why didn't she ask more questions?! When will he stop asking questions?! It's just not easy going through grief, or going through life for that matter - but it's also an amazing and valuable experience, pain and all.

And yeah, why don't they treat the whole person anymore (if they ever did)? Why have we forgotten that patients are people, not just a collection of symptoms and ailments? Good question!

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Andrew Dunleavey's avatar

I really appreciated this. Thanks for posting.

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Valerie Joseph's avatar

What a powerful essay. Thank you so much

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Paula Derrow's avatar

Beautiful and raw.

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