Tag Archives: distress

A Tranquil Space

P__ and I went to Turn Up for Gaza at The Colour Factory. The venue is very cool. The line up was great, hosted by Jen Brister, and including JJ Bola, the repeat beat poet, Rozi Plain, Robyn Rocket and more. A highlight was Donna Thompson who made magic with her voice and a looper. And of course, my all time favourite Hollie McNish, who made me cry, as always. The event was in support of All Our Relations, supporting families displaced by conflict and violence, providing them with the financial, organizational, and emotional aid they need to rebuild their lives with dignity. I hope the event raised a lot of money. You can donate here or use the QR code.

There has been heavy rainfall in Khan Younis and other areas of Gaza. Osama tells me that conditions have deteriorated. There is no infrastructure. There is no shelter. Everything, everywhere is cold and wet. They worry that tents will be flooded and destroyed. I got paid, so I sent his family more money. Please help with whatever you can. I am matching all donations between now and Friday* so whatever you give will be worth double!

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Critical care

I was one of the lucky ones this year and was not working on Christmas Day. After my shift on Christmas Eve I fed the cat, packed up the car with presents and headed to my brother’s house. Waiting for me was a glass of mulled wine, and a hug. Christmas Day was lovely and it was with a heavy heart that I left my family and battled the driving rain in order to get back to London for my night shift on Boxing Day. My feelings of dread were not misplaced: the shift was tough. But most of my shifts have been tough of late. I am in the midst of a six month rotation on ICU (the intensive care unit), having left the familiarity of the acute medical ward and the outpatient clinic, replacing them with a world of ventilators, alarms and intense emotions. I am used to hard work, but I find intensive care physically and emotionally exhausting. It has taken me by surprise just how difficult it is to get through the weeks and I have begun to realise that this is primarily due to a concern that not everything I am doing is ‘the right thing’.

Clinicians in Intensive Care Unit

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