A few weeks ago I was reminded of how fragile and precious life is. I was asked to participate in the Peoria Medical Society & Alliance’s mini-internship program, and, as a Children’s Hospital of Illinois Community Board Member, I was anxious to suit up in scrubs and follow Director of Pediatric Trauma Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Richard Pearl on a routine day at the hospital. Dr. Pearl was anxious to explain the surgical procedures he and fellow surgeon Dr. Vegunta would perform that day to me and my fellow interns, Peoria Journal Star reporter Dayna Brown and Mayor Jim Ardis.

We soon realized, however, that there are probably no routine days for physicians. As we began to make rounds with the doctors, he was “beeped” that a young boy was just brought into the emergency department. We hurriedly criss-crossed the hospital to the ED, where the medical team was already treating the injured boy. After a quick check of the x-rays and confirmation of assessment with the medical team, Dr. Pearl quietly began comforting the injured boy. As a mother, I swallowed hard, wishing the boy’s mother knew that her son was being treated with not only medical skill, but with compassion.

We went back to rounds in the Neo-Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. I had never seen a child as small as those preemies, less than a pound. When possible, Dr. Pearl explained their unique yet common struggles due to being born so tiny. I blinked back tears as I saw young mothers and fathers, as well as the nursing staff, anxiously standing by the bedsides. Again, with sincere care and interest, Dr. Pearl encouraged the parents to take a few minutes’ break and get something to eat, perhaps rest for a moment. He gave the highest praise for the pediatric nurses and proudly said the average tenure for a NICU nurse is 14 years.

The first surgery was delayed about half an hour, as the surgical team prepped the patient. Dr. Pearl educated us on the procedure and how this would dramatically improve the quality of life for this child. In fact, we were introduced to the mother who would count each second throughout the surgery, clinging to the hope of a positive outcome.

As I drove back to my office, I thought of those mothers who were still at the hospital, praying for the safety and healing of their children. While I shouldn’t have to be reminded of the miracle and fragility of life, the one day spent watching the dynamics between medical staff and patient renewed my respect for our medical community. I called my children to say hello—but really to just hear their voices.

Thank you, Dr. Pearl. The experience was so much more than job shadowing. TPW