Tanzila Basrin, MD 2017
I took this picture during an international elective in Dhaka, Bangladesh, after observing a c-section delivery for the first time. Excited to capture this moment, I took a picture of the baby as the pediatrician welcomed her with a series of affectionate rubs and examinations. Despite my initial discomfort, I discovered the beauty of childbirth.
But there are many angles to a story – the photographer and those in the picture see very different versions of a similar story, with perspective being our differentiator. In medicine, a discovery made by a physician may be different from what is being perceived by a patient. And when the patient is one who has just been brought into this world, the discoveries are endless. As she took her first breaths, she discovered the ability to breathe in fresh air and even attempt a loud cry. She experienced the sensation of light in her eyes and the touch of numerous caregivers surrounding her - she felt and heard those around her from a new vantage point. She was slowly discovering this unknown world, so strange and foreign. But just as all of this overwhelmed her, she discovered, once again, the comforting embrace of her mother. And that discovery made all the difference; it was enough to calm her down as though all was good again, and nothing changed at all.
But there are many angles to a story – the photographer and those in the picture see very different versions of a similar story, with perspective being our differentiator. In medicine, a discovery made by a physician may be different from what is being perceived by a patient. And when the patient is one who has just been brought into this world, the discoveries are endless. As she took her first breaths, she discovered the ability to breathe in fresh air and even attempt a loud cry. She experienced the sensation of light in her eyes and the touch of numerous caregivers surrounding her - she felt and heard those around her from a new vantage point. She was slowly discovering this unknown world, so strange and foreign. But just as all of this overwhelmed her, she discovered, once again, the comforting embrace of her mother. And that discovery made all the difference; it was enough to calm her down as though all was good again, and nothing changed at all.
This work originally appeared in UOttawa Med's 3rd Annual Art Show.
Reproduced here with permission from Arts in Medicine
Reproduced here with permission from Arts in Medicine
