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Here is a message that Typist has started sending to her friends.

You're a friend!

Will you help? 😃

I want to formulate a solid list of questions to start asking my caregivers. My preference is that they are somewhat personal/relational in nature. More about connection beyond the transactions of cancer care.

For example… my oncologist and I share a love of ice cream. I’m going to ask him something about ice cream. One of my nurses was pregnant during some of my treatment. I’m going to ask her if she had concerns about being around the poisons… I mean drugs.

So far I’ve had suggestions of:

Favorite movie, band, book?

Podcast that makes you laugh?

If you can think of curiosity fueled, relational questions for an oncologist, nurse, surgeon… big machine tech, phlebotomist… etc…

Will you send them along? Expand my thinking?

What would you want to learn?

Much appreciated!

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I would ask caregivers to share something positive that they would say to someone struggling with their health. It would make them reflect and think. It might even refresh their mind so they see how much they really help people.

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Asking caregivers what they do when they’re not providing care to patients is a good ask. You could also ask them how they recharge their batteries so they have the energy to be the best provider possible. In other words, what do they do to replenish their own cup so they have something to offer those they serve. I’ve heard Wayne Dyer talk about the idea of, you can’t give what you don’t have. If we are compassion depleted for example, it becomes difficult to “BE” compassionate.

Empathy is another example that goes beyond caregiving. We never know what someone else is going through... Typist knows how fond I am of Whitman’s 4 magic words. “Be curious, not judgmental.”

How do we remain curious?

It is my intention to do some asking and I will report back what I discover.

Mycelium’s structures were one of the first things I sketched. I love the ones you captured AND Beautiful Chorus... Amazing! Like angels singing!

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Coaster: “Yes, I know the voices aren't real, but man do they have some great ideas!” 😁

(not intended to imply anything, just thought it was a cute coaster)

Like the mushroom drawings; LOVE the mushroom quote! 💚

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