Wednesday
Apr222020
The Pause : Precious Pockets of Air for Key Workers
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 2:49AM 
Emily Fong 2020 | The Pause I | Surgeons in the tea room, St John's Hospital, LivingstonHow weird is time right now? In the same breath it feels like both a moment and a lifetime ago that I was observing head and neck surgery at St John’s Hospital in Livingston. In many ways this time to reflect has been extremely valuable for re-evaluating purpose and intention. The purpose of my presence in the operating theatre was to observe what many patients experience in their treatment journey for head and neck cancer, via the approachable medium of drawing. As an honorary member of the Emmerson Lab, I report back to Dr. Emmerson and her team what I have seen, a way to connect them to the patients the science aims to influence. My particular focus is their focus; the salivary gland, and this project is about communication, community and flow in more ways than one. So here I am going with that flow. 
Emily Fong 2020 | The Pause II | Surgical nurse in the operating theatre, St John's Hospital, LivingstonA month ago I was sitting with two surgeons in the tea room, them with their lunch and me with my sketchbook, vibrating with anticipation. Whilst one questioned the other about the difference between a genotype and a phenotype, I began to draw the bottom of a pair of surgical crocks. With my mind open to their conversation, I was reflecting on how precious this moment of pause actually was, relative to the focus required for the 6 hour surgery ahead. Once in the theatre itself, with a big smile I introduced myself to the team and found a safe position in the room to observe the setup of the operation. From here I continued to document the pause; the surgical nurses were taking a moment to breathe.
Now from a distance, in the context of Covid-19, these drawings, simple and even a little mundane, have taken on a new layer of significance. Many of us are inhabiting this pause, doing our best to emotionally prepare ourselves for the next operation of finding new ways to mend and rebuild the world. At the same time, I am mindful of how precious these pockets of air are for the 'key workers' who are continuining to ensure the future is a place that we can occupy. I am very grateful for the scientific and healthcare professionals of our world, even more so than I was a month ago at St John's. I am also extremely grateful to the patients and their families who have allowed me the special privilege of witnessing and sharing their journeys.
Be safe, be kind and stay at home.
Thank you for reading,
Emily
If you wish to join the next monthly online Patient & caregiver meeting from anywhere in the world with The Swallows Group, you can register your place via the link below.
Ask the Experts, Open Session and local breakout rooms.
Wednesday, 13th May from 19:00 uk