This project took many forms, shapes, sizes, mediums, and trials.
Nothing seemed to fit.
Perhaps that was the intention.
I fretted about what you might have done,
Especially nowadays
With aching joints
Repeat appointments
Isolation
Fear or resignation.
We could never really read through the stoicism.
Where would you find inspiration?
Or perhaps, more importantly,
Where would you seek solace?
I remembered the smaller details.
The questions unassigned.
I remembered the fruity, aromatic reds
Racked next to the walker
And the books removed from their jackets
Pages dog-eared and yellowed
Covers worn
Fingerprint oil swirls from its rather recent
though familiar
Confidant.
I remembered the joy with which you spoke of your dog
The worry you were holding her back with your creaking knees
through those walks through the forest.
I pictured you there amongst the hazy green emanations
feeling the colors seep into your pores
Forgetting for a moment that your cells
In no way possess chlorophyll
But feeling renewed energy
amidst the sunbeams
just the same.
I took pictures of what you may have noticed
Walking at a pace fitting for knees that have logged many years
Strolling through countless forests.
I thought you may have noticed these things too, but if not,
Either way,
Thank you for showing them to me.
My community partner was a kind and interesting elderly man with a few chronic conditions. Although he considered his ailments relatively benign, especially compared to his wife, his biggest source of strife was the osteoarthritis. He spoke with frustration about his limited mobility and the resulting guilt associated with its impact on caring for his dog on their daily strolls through Duke Forest. He was a wonderful conversationalist, though our interactions were limited to more interview-style exchanges. I tried to place myself in his shoes to get a better concept of what art forms might resonate with him. The experience was enlightening and deepened my understanding of empathy. The resulting free-form poem and images embody what I imagine life is like in nature through the eyes of my patient. Although my journey into photography is just beginning, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the process and to cultivate a more trained eye.
About the Artist: Alexis Domeracki
Outside of medicine I find joy in the outdoors, playing music, reading, and writing. My participation in SCOPES comes as a direct result of these interests. The opportunity to interpret my patient interactions through an artistic paradigm is both a source of consolation and inspiration which I will carry forward into my career as a physician. The medical humanities provide an avenue for both deeper and alternative understanding of our experiences, circumstances, and role as physicians. Without this outlet, I fear becoming too myopic in my interactions with the world and in clinical practice. The humanities allow me to reset and widen my vision, which in turn enhances my reality and hopefully positively impacts the patient experience.
