Most oncology professionals say
that the joy and meaning they find
outweigh the grief and loss they
also experience. When it comes
to the painful aspects of their job,
they often get support from others
on their team. But sometimes they
need to find solace in other ways.
Valenzuela restores her sense of
balance by “walking outside in
the fresh air to get away for a few
minutes.” Zahasky recommends
“exercise, a healthy diet, lots of
sleep and occasional chocolate.”
“We all need to come up with
ways to rejuvenate ourselves
so we can come back the next
morning,” agrees Gilewski,
whether it is enjoying art,
traveling or appreciating the
generosity of patients and family
members. Arnoletti treasures
the hugs he and his patients
sometimes exchange, the piles
of cards and pictures and shared
memories that connect them. At
the same time, he says, he learns
from his patients by treasuring
simple everyday things like eating
dinner or spending time with
loved ones.
“I learn a lot about how strong
and brave and resilient people can
be,” says Whiting. His patients,
he says, “teach me a lot about
living, about the fragility of life
and the need to actually live and
make days count.” Murrah agrees.
“Working here is a daily reminder
of how strong people can be in
times of turmoil and also how
fragile we are,” she says. “I have
learned to live with your cup half
full … to hug the people you love
and tell them you love them and to
love hard.”
Like tightrope walkers, people
coping with cancer must look
ahead yet remain centered in the
present moment. They face both
the helplessness of realizing not
everything can be controlled and
the power of learning to gracefully
dance with the unexpected.
Likewise, doctors and nurses find
their way forward in the delicate
balance between compassion
and science, between the present
moment with one patient and the
knowledge that another waits for
them down the hall, between the
grief and loss they face daily and
the unexpected and deep sense of
meaning when a spark of insight or
joy illuminates the path ahead.
CR | Page No. 29 | www.CRmagazine.org
