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Wed Nov 21 15:09:20 GMT 2007

Well sad Pret.  Happy thanksgiving.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bjorn, Pret" <pbjorn at emh.org>
To: "Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list" <trauma-list at trauma.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:27 AM
Subject: RE: Thanksgiving!

We share these sentiments, Dr. Morris.  I am by no means a religious
man; nonetheless I am ever grateful for my circumstances, and mindful
that 99% of humanity is by any measure less fortunate than me.  (If
you're reading this on a computer in a warm, well lit room, in a
building with clean running water and access to any sort of safe
nutrition, the same is certainly true for you.)

But consider too how many of us silently include "this community of
clinicians" among our blessings.  

How many times have we each been asked why we're professionally drawn to
dire emergencies and dreadful injuries?  The answers for me have always
been too fast off the tongue: adrenaline; immediate gratification; high
impact over a short term; (relative) simplicity; the ability to assert
with confidence that -- even if only very occasionally, or by subtle
means -- one's work with patients, providers and systems SAVES LIVES.
All true, all undeniably cool.  But somehow faintly hollow.

A couple of weeks ago, over cocktails at a conference, it hit me.  After
a quarter of a century, some switch in my head lit a huge, long-dormant
insight: my work puts me in the regular company of people who amaze,
challenge, and inspire me: doctors, nurses, medics, therapists,
technicians and other professionals whose work demands excellence in the
moment, and who routinely deliver it.  I don't know why it took me so
long to understand that it's not the disease that thrills me: it's the
folks who fight it.  It's what keeps me on the lookout for messages from
the Trauma-List -- even the ones from friends I don't agree with (or
jerks with whom I do).

And so this Thanksgiving I'm grateful for my comfortable life and my
dear family; but also for my colleagues here in Maine, across the U.S.,
and around the world.  Thanks especially, Karim, for this community.

Regards,

Pret Bjorn, RN
Bangor, ME USA

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Charlene M Morris
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:23 PM
To: Trauma &amp, Critical Care mailing list
Subject: Thanksgiving!

For all the Americans, Happy Thanksgiving. For non-US citizenry, do take
a
moment and do what I used to tell my children is "Count your blessings".
If
nothing else, this community of clinicians and medics is incredibly dear
to
me.

As for T day dinner, our hospital had the *official dinner"  last
Friday. AS
we were seeing patient after pt, the overhear system said "Everyone go
up
for 2nds and 3rds". Most of us had not yet had firsts! We are not
starving,
however-- so that is something for which I am persinally grateful.

I'll try my best not to cuss as I am seeing folks this Thursday.. 0;-)

On, on.

Charlene Morris
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Thanksgiving!