On a recent trip to visit my parents in the Philippines, I found this painting hanging on the wall of their home. Its back bore my name and age - four years old, handwritten by my mother in her classic Catholic school penmanship. She gave us full freedom to paint “anything”

I was recently reminded of how amazing our hands are when I injured my left hand. It was difficult for me to do many tasks that I once took for granted As I was bemoaning my own plight one day, I was called to assist an MO to remove an

I look toward the sky As evening begins to gather… Layers of pale blue, soft gray, And rose spilling across the horizon, Colors so gentle They seem to beg me, Set it down. Set aside the fear that has wrapped itself Around me like a python, Tightening its grip Until

The text came through On the theme of Hands It popped up At Hands Cafe where I was Having the perfect lemon meringue tart With coffee Then because of a question How did you know about us That started a conversation Two sessions resulted They were Try Poetry workshops Facilitated

Everyone who has spent time near a hospital knows the particular quality of its waiting. Time thickens. The clock on the wall seems to keep different hours in a waiting room than it does anywhere else in the building. You come to know the vending machine, the water cooler, the

Our second monthly word — and an invitation to write together. Last month, we began In Common with a single word: Threshold. We have been deeply heartened by the number of responses it has already drawn — small, generous pieces from people willing to place a moment of illness, care, work, or

by Su Ann This piece is part of In Common, a collaborative writing series where voices from across the healthcare community respond to a single shared word - Threshold The resus bay doors have a particular weight to them. You cross them and become someone else. The four-month-old came

A personal experience of art transforming one’s perspective This piece is part of In Common, a collaborative writing series where voices from across the healthcare community respond to a single shared word. For our inaugural theme, Thresholds, Evangeline Chai reflects on how we might be able to cross the

This piece is part of In Common, a collaborative writing series where voices from across the healthcare community respond to a single shared word.

Introducing a new monthly series — one word, and the gathered voices of our community. Our first word is Thresholds. Medicine can be a strangely lonely thing to carry. You witness something on a Tuesday afternoon — a piece of news received, a hand held, a small brave moment in a hospital