Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

What she sees

Michelle M. Kittleson
Los Angeles, California, United States

 

From Openclipart. Public Domain.

I know she does not believe me,
Why won’t you save my son?
Why won’t you see what I see?

 

Her firstborn; calm and chubby;
Why can’t he walk? He’s one.
Why won’t you see what I see?

 

Genetic tests and biopsies,
Why can’t you fix a Lamin mutation?
I know she does not believe me.

 

Wheelchair-bound since the age of three;
He made it to graduation!
Why won’t you see what I see?

 

End-stage cardiomyopathy,
He cannot die at 21!
I know she does not believe me.


Toothpick limbs, too many IVs,
He is tired and knows he is done.
I know she does not believe me.
Why won’t you see what I see?

 

 


 

MICHELLE KITTLESON, MD, PhD, is an Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. She is the Director of Education in Heart Failure and Transplantation and Director of Heart Failure Research. She is committed to medical education and asking clinically relevant research questions to improve the management of patients with advanced heart failure.

 

Winter 2020  |    Sections  |  Poetry

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