“I saw the tears the fear and frustration in doctors’ or nurses’ eyes, the uncertainty about how ‘human’ they could appear and keep their professional role – or keep functioning for the rest of their shift…”

Thanks Mary, for understanding not only that medical staff are humans (full of myriad personal questions, fatigues, and insecurities) but that medical professionals have so many responsibilities on shift, “empathizing” with a patient’s pain is often not in the toolbox…

At the same time, I feel Mary’s work implies a deeper vision: if our “system” were to teach such skills of empathy as an asset in care, then doctors and nurses would move even closer to solving patient issues in an elegant, even inspired fashion…

The “human connection” is often a fundamental to any healing process.

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Thanks again Mary

Mary expressed something I’d never put into words – that the moment of death is in fact a moment of life! I recalled how I felt, not knowing if my treatment would work: I was possibly on the last big waterslide of life, but my eyes were wide open and fully alert. What a powerful realization, and what choice it gives us.

Thank you so much for this.