Witnessing the first breath of life, the last before death,
“You are cancer free!”, “The cancer has returned,”
“Congratulations, you are pregnant!,” “I am so sorry, but there is no longer a heartbeat,”
The scream of a mother echoing down the hallway as she brings new life into the world, the scream as she watches her child depart it,
Tears of joy in one patient’s room as their scan was clear, tears of sorrow in the next as their scan shows new metastasis.
The dichotomy of medicine – the best and the worst in life,
What a privilege and honor it is to walk with people on the best and worst days of their lives.
Poetry Thursdays is an initiative that highlights poems by medical students. If you are interested in contributing or would like to learn more, please contact our editors.
