Monthly Archives: November 2008

The Drama Behind the Drama

By Linda | November 25, 2008

Hospital drama is nothing new to those of you who spend the least bit of time watching TV. So it should come as no surprise that medically related crises are not limited to the infants who are tragically but literally shaken to death. Or to the adolescent with cystic fibrosis who might not make it [...]

Posted in On the Job | 4 Comments

Building Relationships

By Linda | November 24, 2008

The little boy with the congenital myopathy still lies in the intensive care unit with a breathing tube and on a ventilator. I have been calling in almost daily, and when in the hospital, going to visit. After having thought about my first encounter with the mother, which I described last week , I knew [...]

Posted in On the Job | 2 Comments

The Bonds of Sisterhood

By Linda | November 19, 2008

Sisterhood is a word that conjures up different meanings depending on who or where you are in life. A sibling (a bond or bondage depending on how lucky you are). Sorority girls in college (Nu? Elle Woods and Delta Nu forever!). Friends who grow up and have adventures while they grow old together (as in [...]

Posted in Accidental Crusader, Mentorhood, The Confessional | 1 Comment

When Unrealistic Expectations Clash with Medical Limitations

By Linda | November 18, 2008

Although I have walked into the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) thousands of times in my life, there is always a patient that will challenge me in ways that are unique when I am least expecting it. This week, I was faced with such a patient and family. The infant, not yet a year old [...]

Posted in On the Job | 2 Comments

Confession: The Most Important Things in My Life Happen on Martha’s Vineyard

By Linda | November 13, 2008

My husband and I discovered our love for Martha’s Vineyard nineteen years ago and have been back with our family yearly ever since. Never mind that it takes 8 hours to drive to the ferry at Woods Hole for a 45 minute ferry ride to Vineyard Haven. Never mind that we used to do it [...]

Posted in Flashbacks, The Confessional | 6 Comments

Science or Salve?

By Linda | November 10, 2008

One of the greatest challenges we doctors have to face is the ever increasing volume of literature we have to read to keep current on the latest advances in medicine in our field. Whereas the number of publications has increased exponentially, I am not so sure that the amount of new and important information has increased proportionately. [...]

Posted in Accidental Crusader, The Confessional | Leave a comment

History

By Linda | November 5, 2008

Yesterday, while US history was being made, we were making our own history in the Brodsky/Greenfield Household. 29 years of marriage. Here is how we celebrated:
6 AM: Got to the polls where we found 200 like-minded voters taking up all the parking spots.
8 AM to 5:30 PM: Spent the day in the operating room.
6:00 PM: [...]

Posted in My Family/My DNA | 1 Comment

On the Eve…

By Linda | November 3, 2008

On the eve of “the most important election in history” (and when haven’t you heard that before?), I promise you I will remain totally apolitical. I have serious reservations about both candidates and I have not yet made up my mind. (Those are the words of my son the advertising guy put into my mouth [...]

Posted in Accidental Crusader | Leave a comment

Confession: I Am a “Legally Blonde” (The Movie) Groupie

By Linda | November 2, 2008

Anyone reading this blog will be in one of three groups: You will have never seen the movie because it sounds dumb. Or you will have seen it once and thought it was cute but “no biggie.” Or, like me, you will have watched Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) hundreds of times while she transforms from ditzy [...]

Posted in Accidental Crusader, The Confessional | 1 Comment

The First of What Will Be Many “On the Job” Posts…

By Linda | November 1, 2008

We have a new, first year ENT resident on the service. I am on-call for ENT and all the patients of the 5 pediatric ENT doctors in the hospital. We all used to be partners, but now we are in three different practices. Fallout from the litigation. But being smart enough to know that covering [...]

Posted in On the Job | Leave a comment