1. I was super nervous about my mother’s hernia operation. It’s a fairly minor procedure – doesn’t even require an overnight at the hospital – but she’s older and has some health issues that made it higher risk for her. Plus, the surgeon she picked wanted to use the da Vinci robotic system to operate. I went … Continue reading On journalism, medical decisions, and my new job
My piece on Laura’s Law – the involuntary outpatient commitment statute being implemented in California – is out in this month’s issue of Pacific Standard. There are two things that I want to note: 1) This is not a comprehensive or wholly unbiased take on involuntary outpatient commitment. This is the story of one county — the … Continue reading On big stories with narrow perspectives
1. Two things, right now: My boyfriend and I are newly engaged. My father is in the middle of a manic episode. I’ve been neglecting this blog – partly because I am busy gushing and crying in equal turn, and partly because I am way past deadline on like a million things. 2. I am not so … Continue reading Chances for sorrow
1. The Judge has just told my father that he can’t go home yet. Twenty minutes ago he was all over the place. We were waiting in the hallway for someone to summon us into the conference room where the commitment hearings are held, and he was talking about writing a book on mold, and about learning … Continue reading Bipolar Chronicle 4: darkness on the face of the deep
One of the things that happens when your immediate family member is manic, and you are trying to get him hospitalized, is that the nurses, psychiatrists and social workers who are evaluating him will also sort-of evaluate you. They’ll listen for signs of family discord, or for hints that you might be exaggerating things. Why? Because maybe … Continue reading Bipolar Chronicle 3: fishbowl, microscope, spotlight.
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. Continue reading Protected: misspent
