A 55 word story is intended to capture the essence of an experience in a very short format. These are stories from my experiences as a physician.

Amniotic Fluid Embolism
A code called to labor and delivery. Running down two flights, and then I saw her-- pregnant, seizing and cyanotic. Never to be more than an expectant mother. No problems during pregnancy and now this. No time to transport. Splash and go. “Resuscitate that baby!” Weak infant cries joined all too soon by adult ones.

Autobiography
Carefree summers swimming and listening to “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero.” Crashing a bike and gushing blood from my nose. Driving to college and weighing down my trunk with home. Trying for medical school and wondering what if I get it. Holding a wrinkled hand and feeling life drift away. Hers and some of mine.

Family Medicine
“You deliver babies too? And set fractures? And colonoscopy?”
“Yes, but a monkey can learn those things. You should choose me because I know you. I was there when your son was born; when your mom was sick. And I’ll be here afterward explaining not just the results, but what they mean in your life.”

Life Expectancy
Diagnosed at 38, her life expectancy is shorter now than if she had contracted HIV. This disease is more insidious and more epidemic. She needs daily medications. She’ll endure side effects, more illnesses and hospitalizations. Her lifestyle contributed to it, so now it must change. Dealing with her guilt and fear, she faces this diabetes.

Heartburn in Lincoln
“I was trying to get to Matt Talbot kitchen, Doctor, but it was awful snowy. And then my friend was supposed to bring me some eats, but he forgot. For six days there I was pretty hungry. I drank a lot of water. And how come when I do that I get heartburn real bad?”

Copyright 2006 Kyle Haefele