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Blessings and Sudden Intimacies: Musings of a Pediatric Intensivist
This memoir follows the journey of a pediatric ICU physician, with recollections of many specific patients and their families, and the relationships he developed with them. It also chronicles his growth as a young adult preparing for a medical career, through parenthood, and finally grandparenthood. Dr. Stidham recalls moments that are tender and touching, others that are painful or frightening, and some that are just hilarious. Dr. Stidham's journey is really two journeys, in parallel. One is his journey in medicine, as a deeply feeling pediatrician, specially trained to care for the most critically ill children and their families. The other is his journey as a husband, father, and finally grandfather. There is something in the story of these two journeys that will resonate with readers of many different types and backgrounds.
178 pages, Paperback
Published February 29, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 14, 2021
I found this book by Dr. Stidham to be delightful. The author, a retired Pediatric Intensivist, tells of the Sudden Intimacies and unexpected Blessings he has received in his personal and professional life.
When he says he wants to write for others “for their rich but otherwise undocumented lives” I feel certain that he achieves this goal for his readers. Especially poignant are his recounting of the many meetings he has had with parents in “the bad news room”. He is seeing these people at a time when the life of their child “hangs in the balance” and “they are never more vulnerable”. Surely he understates his communication skills at these times when he says “this is a challenging balancing act”.
In a world of multidisciplinary healthcare providers who staff an ICU the Pediatric Intensivist is at the very top. Humility can be hard to come by at that level. Yet when he is handed a recently dead baby by an Aunt he writes that she had to have been “a highly evolved spirit” and he wonders what made her do that. Perhaps it was that the Aunt recognized in him a kindred “highly evolved spirit”.
To all of us readers who have, or will have, loved ones in an ICU, this autobiography serves to give hope that they will be treated by their caregivers with dignity, caring and respect.
When he says he wants to write for others “for their rich but otherwise undocumented lives” I feel certain that he achieves this goal for his readers. Especially poignant are his recounting of the many meetings he has had with parents in “the bad news room”. He is seeing these people at a time when the life of their child “hangs in the balance” and “they are never more vulnerable”. Surely he understates his communication skills at these times when he says “this is a challenging balancing act”.
In a world of multidisciplinary healthcare providers who staff an ICU the Pediatric Intensivist is at the very top. Humility can be hard to come by at that level. Yet when he is handed a recently dead baby by an Aunt he writes that she had to have been “a highly evolved spirit” and he wonders what made her do that. Perhaps it was that the Aunt recognized in him a kindred “highly evolved spirit”.
To all of us readers who have, or will have, loved ones in an ICU, this autobiography serves to give hope that they will be treated by their caregivers with dignity, caring and respect.
August 25, 2021
Amazing Book
Having worked as a young nurse with Greg I loved everything about this story. He was an awesome leader and gently taught us so much. He describes his interactions with patients and parents perfectly. He kept his personal life quiet so we only saw the funny ties and calmness as he cared for the sickest little ones. Every new nurse should have the experience we had with Greg and his team. I’m so thankful to have his memoir to remind me of those special days.
Having worked as a young nurse with Greg I loved everything about this story. He was an awesome leader and gently taught us so much. He describes his interactions with patients and parents perfectly. He kept his personal life quiet so we only saw the funny ties and calmness as he cared for the sickest little ones. Every new nurse should have the experience we had with Greg and his team. I’m so thankful to have his memoir to remind me of those special days.
September 9, 2021
Dr Stidham has done a wonderful job in sharing his experiences as a Pediatric Intensivist and the resulting richness of life he gained from it. I thought he excelled at showing the human, over clinical, side of medicine. I found his first chapter very impactful. "Intimate" is the perfect word to describe it.
May 31, 2022
he just seems like the sweetest old man alive and i’m so happy for him
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews