How Do You Survive?
When the healer speaks, grief becomes a shared language.
On the morning of Nov. 6, I met with my hematologist.
Before discussing my condition, I asked how he was doing.
His answer wasn’t clinical—it was human, raw, and quietly heartbreaking.
This sonnet is my way of honoring that moment.
quietly devastating. deeply humane. i hope I caught not just the clinical encounter, but the soul behind the white coat—the grief, the grace, the quiet unraveling that caregivers endure. i hope this sonnet’s rhythm holds the weight of the conversation with reverence, and that the final couplet lands like a benediction.
Nicely said Dave. I deal with oncologists often (my own, and others) and I'm often wondering how they do manage such a heavy emotional load.
I'm glad he didn't reply with "I'm fine." It's so automatic but clearly not true. His response was very human.