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Health Enhanced by Art 2020 (HEArt Journal)

Saying Goodbye: A Reflection of an Experience on the Wards

Art Description

This piece was originally created for my Psychiatry rotation during 3rd year. The assignment was to document an experience with a patient. This particular encounter affected me deeply. While I had been around many very sick patients, this was the first one I actually witnessed in the active dying process. When the man’s wife was saying goodbye to him, I became fixated on that simple word: “goodbye”. I say it to my wife every morning when I leave the house, but it occurred to me that the term always included an unspoken assurance of reunification. As in, “goodbye, I’ll see you soon”. I had never stopped to think about what it might mean to say that word with finality, as literally written. I can’t imagine saying it for the last time and knowing the person you’re saying it to won’t come back. It’s like watching an airplane take off. Once it’s going, it’s gone, and nothing you can do will stop or turn it around. I hope it helps you take another moment to treasure the people you love in your life.

Artist Statement

Artist: David Shumway, SOMA

David Shumway is a 3rd Year Osteopathic Medical Student studying at A. T. Still School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona and a recipient of the HPSP scholarship through United States Air Force. He is currently based in Hilton Head, SC. David is interested in studying Internal Medicine and hopes to complete an Active Duty residency in this area.