Doses and Limitations

(advice for incoming pediatric hematology/oncology fellows)

1 || your heart has room for an immeasurable number of patients and

       families

2 || there is no true upper limit for a PCA (when a patient is dying) —

      escalate as necessary

3 || don’t spend all your tears at the beginning; you will need them

       later

4 || patience is not infinite and at some point, you may become

       someone you may not recognize — you will find your way back to

       yourself

5 || sleep will solve almost all problems — some is better than none

6 || you will process the trauma from work at times and locations that

       will surprise you: the grocery store, behind the wheel at a red 

       light, or over dinner

7 || there is a phrase harder to share than “I am sorry to share this with

       you, but your child has cancer” and it is “I am sorry to share this

       but your child has relapsed” or even “I am sorry to share this but I

       cannot offer treatment that can cure your child of this awful   

       disease”

8 || treasure the moments when the joy of being alive drowns out the

        sound of your pager

9 || you are allowed moments when you put yourself first – trust me