Anna Gaddy is a nephrologist.
“I’m one of the doctors taking care of your dad.”
As a resident, I made this call countless times. Even more than breaking bad news to patients, I feared surprising their families at night by telephone. Nearly always, though, people were calm and certain despite the circumstances, and their response was always the same: “Do whatever you have to do.” As a fellow, I looked forward to leaving those calls behind. …
I came back from a family vacation to Italy one day before the first case of novel coronavirus was reported there. Two days later, the CDC issued a Level 3 travel warning for visitors to Italy. Eight days later, and six days after returning to work, I got a fever.
I live in Indiana, where no cases have been diagnosed, and our protocols are still green. When I self-reported my symptoms to …
Mr. O has a drinking problem. More specifically, Mr. O drinks far too much and far too often, and for reasons that can’t be addressed with the tool he’s chosen. I met him at what could be called the low point of his life, except I know better than to hope things will look up. On a night I covered the intensive care unit, this particular man ascended from the coma …
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