A healthy 30-year-old doctor had an unexpected medical emergency while preparing for a procedure, which led to the discovery of a small hemorrhage in her dorsal brainstem. She was transferred to the neuro ICU and experienced vulnerability in being cared for by attending physicians they had been working to impress. Despite the discomfort, being cared for by familiar colleagues became a source of comfort in scary moments.

As the doctors treated the patient, they faced uncertainty about the outcome of the situation, causing the patient to feel anxious about the possibility of death and long-term deficits.

The patient’s neurologist discussed the possibility of shaving the patient’s head to place an extra ventricular drain.

Despite the uncertainty, the patient found comfort in discussing her career aspirations in pulmonary and critical care with the team. Creating a safe and comfortable environment for patients became a high priority for the doctor in her patient care.

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