Canadian Medical Education Journal

Welcome to Motherhood

by Michiko Maruyama

My doctors said it was impossible... After all the radiation and chemotherapy, I was told that I would not be able to have children. We searched for a surrogate, we looked into adoption… it seemed so hopeless and then, it happened. I was a bit nervous to tell my program because I am the first University of Alberta cardiac surgery resident to become pregnant. I did not expect their response, “Michiko, our job is to create excellent surgeons. Being an excellent surgeon does not just include being technically skilled. It involves being well rounded and excelling at all areas of life. If part of your life involves being a mother and having a family, then we are here to support and encourage you all the way.” I am proud to share that I am the mother of a beautiful baby boy.

"Welcome to Motherhood” is an illustrative photograph that represents my experience as a surgical resident and, at the time, a soon to be mother. I am the first cardiac surgery resident at the University of Alberta to become pregnant. I am so thankful to my program for all their support and encouragement throughout my pregnancy and after, when I entered motherhood. The relevance to cardiovascular science is that I feel it is important to acknowledge my cardiac surgery programs response to my pregnancy announcement. In a male dominated field with no experience of pregnant trainees, they did an incredible job to support and encourage me along the way.

Location: Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Photo taken from the top of Grayman's Beard, a large bed of rocks overlooking Portugal Cove at the top of a 500-foot hill.

This photograph shows the ferry from Bell Island coming into Portugal Cove. Bell Island is an island community located off the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. Residents of Bell Island rely on ferry crossing to Portugal Cove and its nearby city of St. John’s for healthcare. This symbolically illustrates the challenges of social and physical isolation of Newfoundland from the mainland of Canada.

To continue reading, follow this link: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/42170/pdf

Eleven years ago, my wife and I lost our son Callum to cancer. He had just celebrated his 3^rd birthday at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto where he was undergoing his 3^rd “rescue” stem cell transplant for his 6^th and final chemotherapy cycle, following the surgical removal of a brain tumor. The image above is a plaster imprint of Callum’s untouched foot, and was created on November 11^th, 2006 – just moments after he died in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Its tiny proportions, detailed imprinting, and delicate craftsmanship all powerfully convey its simple message. Protected permanently in our home, it is being shared in CMEJ to help tell my personal journey as a bereaved parent, loving husband, individual human being, and Emergency Room physician. It accompanies and amplifies Lester Liao’s commentary (in this issue) on “The physician as person framework.”

To continue reading, follow this link: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/43113/pdf

Title: Patient communication

Artists: Hugh James Brocklebank & Tanisha Jowsey, University of Auckland

This image is as example of what not to do when communicating with patients during diagnosis consultation. It was hand drawn for Christine Phillips of the Australian National University School of Medicine in 2012, then coloured using Adobe Photoshop 2010.

Title: Alpine heights 1

Photographer: Zuzana Novak, University of Ottawa

Location is a matter of geography. Global is a matter of heart.