Tag: family narrative

Una carta para mama

Carla tells her story of how her mother's disposition changed after her father's hospitalization with diabetes. One day, Carla came home to see her mother, Jaquelina, on the floor. She shook her and slapped her awake. Jaquelina finally woke up to say she wished she had aborted Carla. This is only where the physical and verbal abuse began. Years like this went on and Carla moved out, cutting off all ties. However, after hearing about Jaquelina attending AA, they both began rekindling their bond. Carla comes from Argentina. The audio may be fit for intermediate Spanish learners. This podcast features themes of physical and verbal abuse and therefore may be suitable for an upper level undergraduate course or medical school student.

Patient & Family Storytelling: Real People. Real Experiences. Real Impact.

This Alberta Health Services website lists 107 videos from patients and their families. There is a brief description of each video (e.g., the health condition, who tells the story, what larger issue or point the story illustrates). It is possible to search the collection (e.g., for stories related to "cancer"). Some examples of health narratives on this website include: Rose’s Story: Joy and Grief, a look into how healthcare providers can help us navigate tragedy and foster healing. Rose explores the impact and experience of the stillbirth of her son and daughter. (The website includes a content warning.) B’s Story: Learning to B myself, a story about the challenges of occupational stress, gender identity, mental health, and transgender advocacy from a rural context. Jeraldine’s Story: There is Hope, a story of the experiences of an Indigenous woman who experiences the ramifications of intergenerational trauma. This story advocated for Canada to provide culturally appropriate healthcare to indigenous populations. Although produced by a health care system, these videos give more voice to patients and family members than is often the case with these kinds of collections. They are well-produced and many address the experiences of historically under-served and marginalized populations.

Head Case: My Father, Alzheimer’s & Other Brainstorms

Miriam Wallace, Professor of English & Gender Studies at New College of Florida, recommended this book on the Health Hum listserv. Author Alexis Orgera is a poet and the daughter of someone with early onset Alzheimer's. Said Wallace, "What's particularly lovely is the way it blends caregiving with learning about the disease--some great accounts of time she spent drawing with her father as a way to keep him connected as the disease progressed."

A last act of intimate kindness

"I had barely seen my brother in decades, but when time was short, he let me in." In the "Modern Love" section of the NYT, a woman describes the tenderness and connection of caring for a younger brother she was mostly estranged from through his death from cancer. She's surprised at how positive and touching it is to reconnect with him under such difficult circumstances. The story could be used to prompt discussion of end-of-life care. The brother declines aggressive treatment and his sister is with him when he dies at home. This narrative is also available in Spanish under the title, "Un último acto de amabilidad íntima."