Tag: Death

On my watch

Sami Kishawi1 Comment

Tell me what happened.

I was sitting in the workroom when the nurse rushed in.

What were you doing?

I can’t remember. Putting in orders or signing a note? I was sitting at the computer furthest from the door.

Tell me more.

She came in, breathing heavily. I can still picture the look of panic in her eyes. One of my patients was so hypotensive that the monitor wasn’t registering his pressure anymore. I chased her to his room. His nose was purple. He had taken off his breathing mask, I think. His nose was so purple, man. That was the first thing that caught my eye. Continue reading “On my watch” →

On family and all that is left at 7 pm

Sami KishawiLeave a comment

His kidneys failed, I’m told. The both of them. Tubes crisscross over and under his bed in a room crowded with empty seats, fuzzy television screens, useless nightstands, and a whiteboard that reads: “Goal: Increase activity”.

The lights are turned off and it’s 7 pm. Flash back to the days when we were young and restless.

With muddied hands (mama told us to stay away from the puddles but we never listened) we run to the kitchen sink without making eye contact. Because once we make eye contact, mama gives us that look that means we’d better be in bed in less than five. She asks whether we’re tired. “No,” we say, but we are. We are just too young and too proud to admit it. And at 7 pm, the lights go off.

Continue reading “On family and all that is left at 7 pm” →