Possibility of Hope
- Alex Marlow
- Feb 27, 2021
- 1 min read
Mom’s sick
The cancer’s back
Medical student mode engaged
Need answers, information
Ask questions
Symptoms? Labs? Imaging? Plan?
Not looking good
Mom’s sick
Need numbers
5-year survival rate
30%
Not looking good
Mom’s sick
She wants Thanksgiving dinner
But...COVID
Medical student mode engaged
Quarantine, meet outside
Masks on, No food
She says she has no fear
But I do
Mom’s sick
Can’t help it
I plan for the worst
Is this how patients’ families feel?
They always seem optimistic
But I train to know
Know all possibilities
How do I know the possibility of hope?
Mom’s sick
Medical school did not prepare me for this
By Alex Marlow
Alex Marlow is a 4th year medical student at the UCI School of Medicine, currently pursuing a MD/MBA. He plans on applying into Psychiatry residency this fall, and is interested in the use of art and writing as a creative outlet to help those with mental health struggles.
Wow, so many emotions wrapped up in this poem. There have been quite a few people in my life affected by cancer/serious medical conditions, so I resonate with the poem's overall theme. My favorite line is "How do I know the possibility of hope?" I'm not sure if this poem is based on true events, and if it is, my heart goes out to the author. Thank you so much for sharing!