Gah! I love this. It's such a beautiful and important acknowledgment of the caregivers who actually CARE. My primary is such a person. I feel safe with her, seen, and respected. Makes all the difference in the world, and no, it doesn't remove the trauma, but it does ease the way through the hard stuff to have partners in healing. xo
truly! given that we use the title “caregiver,” i’ve always assumed care is implicit… i think true care in practice is something we as a society are waking up to, ever so slowly. but waking up we are! i am so glad you have a PCP who creates safety for you, Nan. “partner in healing” — love this phrase! xoxo.
Today I was clearing some papers and came across some notes I’d written last year when I was drawing at a conference for doctors and consultants here in the UK.
I’d written a quote: “it takes seconds to add compassion. It adds greatly to the experience and the outcomes”.
I’m so glad you met medical staff who understood the value of compassionate care 🦅❤️
it truly does take a mere handful of seconds, and the impact is quite literally beyond measure. i feel as if the compassion i’ve received in this exam room has created years worth of healing! i love that you were drawing at that conference, by the way — it’s very evident that compassion beats behind everything that comes out of your pen 💛
Aaaaaaah! Such a thrill to see and read and walk through that beautiful experience with you. Can you post a photo of your tattoo? Inquiring minds want to know. :) I wonder if med school education is shifting to bring in this critical element of care that's so antithetical to capitalism. As always, grateful for your work and your achingly raw and lovely heart.
One small window of possibility: The PA who is my primary care person and with whom I teared up in our first meeting because of just how compassionate and present he is, also teaches upcoming PAs. When I sent him an article on research that shows improved patient outcomes when the practitioner brings the compassion, he immediately shared it with his current class and they apparently had a robust conversation. I like to imagine he's representative and not an exception.
this is so beautiful!! oh wow. fills my tender heart with so much hope. i truly think everyone is capable of compassion — it’s simply easy to overlook when non compassionate voices are so loud. i’m thrilled you have this amazing caregiver in your life, SB 🤍
omg of course! i will upload a pic of my most beautiful tattoo to this post - it was designed by an artist friend and is my favorite part of my body. :)
here’s to creating all of the antithesis to capitalize with this level of compassion! thank you for witnessing my aching open heart, Gail 💛
Oh, my. This is so beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I am proud of you for speaking up about what you need.
I, too, love birds and have a strong connection to the Red Tailed Hawk. I also have a Corvid Cam where I feed the crows in my back yard. Birds = Joy for me right now.
thank you, Michele! it certainly isn’t easy to advocate for our personal needs. it’s a practice i am steadily cultivating. i feel immensely gratified to have practiced it in this way — with such a powerful and human response.
birds ARE joy!! i love that you have a Corvid Cam. and that we share this sacred connection with red tails. they are magnificent beings. i can’t name another creature that brings awe to my heart more immediately or directly.
This is so wonderful, and I love that you not only blurted out "birds" but that they took you up on that and went out of their way to make you feel safe enough to get it done.
Kate, your art and the telling of this story are nourishing to my spirit. As you said, just knowing that this kind of compassion and attentive care is even possible is a wonder, but it's also healing and transformative. I'm so so grateful these winged companions were there with you through this traumatic experience - and birds, always birds. I'm sending you so much love, you brave and beautiful bird human.
i have never felt so seen as being named as a bird human! from one beautiful bird soul to another - thank you, Phoenix (ah! phoenix! the most magnificent of winged beings!). honored to have brought some spirit nourishment your way, sweet, sweet friend. ✨🦅
Gah! I love this. It's such a beautiful and important acknowledgment of the caregivers who actually CARE. My primary is such a person. I feel safe with her, seen, and respected. Makes all the difference in the world, and no, it doesn't remove the trauma, but it does ease the way through the hard stuff to have partners in healing. xo
truly! given that we use the title “caregiver,” i’ve always assumed care is implicit… i think true care in practice is something we as a society are waking up to, ever so slowly. but waking up we are! i am so glad you have a PCP who creates safety for you, Nan. “partner in healing” — love this phrase! xoxo.
xoxo!
THANK YOU for sharing this. Your art and storytelling are beautiful and moving. So glad to be receiving your newsletters :)
ah, thank you, Sheridan! i’m so grateful to be sharing my heart with you in this way. 💛
Today I was clearing some papers and came across some notes I’d written last year when I was drawing at a conference for doctors and consultants here in the UK.
I’d written a quote: “it takes seconds to add compassion. It adds greatly to the experience and the outcomes”.
I’m so glad you met medical staff who understood the value of compassionate care 🦅❤️
it truly does take a mere handful of seconds, and the impact is quite literally beyond measure. i feel as if the compassion i’ve received in this exam room has created years worth of healing! i love that you were drawing at that conference, by the way — it’s very evident that compassion beats behind everything that comes out of your pen 💛
Aaaaaaah! Such a thrill to see and read and walk through that beautiful experience with you. Can you post a photo of your tattoo? Inquiring minds want to know. :) I wonder if med school education is shifting to bring in this critical element of care that's so antithetical to capitalism. As always, grateful for your work and your achingly raw and lovely heart.
One small window of possibility: The PA who is my primary care person and with whom I teared up in our first meeting because of just how compassionate and present he is, also teaches upcoming PAs. When I sent him an article on research that shows improved patient outcomes when the practitioner brings the compassion, he immediately shared it with his current class and they apparently had a robust conversation. I like to imagine he's representative and not an exception.
this is so beautiful!! oh wow. fills my tender heart with so much hope. i truly think everyone is capable of compassion — it’s simply easy to overlook when non compassionate voices are so loud. i’m thrilled you have this amazing caregiver in your life, SB 🤍
Remembering that it's volume and not might or mass is so helpful to me 💜
omg of course! i will upload a pic of my most beautiful tattoo to this post - it was designed by an artist friend and is my favorite part of my body. :)
here’s to creating all of the antithesis to capitalize with this level of compassion! thank you for witnessing my aching open heart, Gail 💛
This is just heart melting. I love it so much, and I relate so hard. And yes, it does always come back to birds.
I also love your unique method of combining images and words to tell a story.
Bravo.
thank you so much, K! i love that you get it re: birds. and open heartedness. thank you for taking in my truth. 🤍
Of course! Your work really resonates with me. Thank you for your courage in sharing it. It is much appreciated. And birds are absolutely magical.
Oh, my. This is so beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. I am proud of you for speaking up about what you need.
I, too, love birds and have a strong connection to the Red Tailed Hawk. I also have a Corvid Cam where I feed the crows in my back yard. Birds = Joy for me right now.
thank you, Michele! it certainly isn’t easy to advocate for our personal needs. it’s a practice i am steadily cultivating. i feel immensely gratified to have practiced it in this way — with such a powerful and human response.
birds ARE joy!! i love that you have a Corvid Cam. and that we share this sacred connection with red tails. they are magnificent beings. i can’t name another creature that brings awe to my heart more immediately or directly.
sending you bird love, my friend 🦅
Weeping here reading this. Hugs to you. Oh the blessings of birds and a little kindness.
blessings indeed!! many, many hugs back to you, friend.
OMG…. I HAVENT HAD ONE OF THOSse dreaded paps for over 10 years!
Bravo, hope all is well
Write on dear one,
Di
they are dreaded, aren’t they?? thank you for cheering me on, Diana! 💛
So good. Kindness and compassion go such a long way. These things ripple, a sort of energy massage to the heart and soul. ✨
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your experience. You are very brave! 🫂❤️🩹
energy massage! YES! so beautifully said. can we all energy massage each other??
thank you for witnessing my vulnerability, Bryn 🫶✨
Yes Kate! Energy massages for the heart and soul of all of our queer family! I’m for it! 💖🥰
This is so wonderful, and I love that you not only blurted out "birds" but that they took you up on that and went out of their way to make you feel safe enough to get it done.
right?? extraordinary and astonishing. i am still giddy with gratitude. thanks for reading, Amy 🤍
Kate, your art and the telling of this story are nourishing to my spirit. As you said, just knowing that this kind of compassion and attentive care is even possible is a wonder, but it's also healing and transformative. I'm so so grateful these winged companions were there with you through this traumatic experience - and birds, always birds. I'm sending you so much love, you brave and beautiful bird human.
i have never felt so seen as being named as a bird human! from one beautiful bird soul to another - thank you, Phoenix (ah! phoenix! the most magnificent of winged beings!). honored to have brought some spirit nourishment your way, sweet, sweet friend. ✨🦅
Beautiful, thank you for sharing x
thanks for reading, Rosie ✨
This was so lovely. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
thank you so much, Kim! grateful for your readership 💛