Jason's incredible day
April 12, 2001 9:12 PM Subscribe
Jason's incredible day is the most moving blog entry I've read this year, if not ever. It's going in my bookmarks under "amazing stories that can move me to tears."
Wow. This was incredible. Reading something like this really makes me wonder about what I'm doing with my life. Jason is lucky. I'm sure there's a lot of people out there that never get to experience something like that.
posted by igloo at 9:36 PM on April 12, 2001
posted by igloo at 9:36 PM on April 12, 2001
I've always loved that Queso was a blog backed by emotion, by living and at the same time, Jason is an unabashed geek, reveling in the toys and tools and technology... (some part of me has always suspected that his pursuit of medicine is motivated by the preponderance of high-tech stuff littering a hospital.)
But this. This is what we mean by the personal web. I've always identified with people whose blogs I read, but since we're in the same city, and read each others' sites, and have a lot of similar interests, I read Queso as I would missives from a friend.
It's really nice to see a friend realize he's a hero. It's even more amazing, and special, to see him be able to write it down and share it with the world while his heart is still beating fast, while it's still new and fresh... it almost seems like it's so personal that it's intruding. But it's there for us to see.
Probably all just a long-winded way of saying "Thank you".
posted by anildash at 9:39 PM on April 12, 2001
But this. This is what we mean by the personal web. I've always identified with people whose blogs I read, but since we're in the same city, and read each others' sites, and have a lot of similar interests, I read Queso as I would missives from a friend.
It's really nice to see a friend realize he's a hero. It's even more amazing, and special, to see him be able to write it down and share it with the world while his heart is still beating fast, while it's still new and fresh... it almost seems like it's so personal that it's intruding. But it's there for us to see.
Probably all just a long-winded way of saying "Thank you".
posted by anildash at 9:39 PM on April 12, 2001
The other, less-serious point I forgot to make. Ladies: A single guy, in Manhattan. He's a doctor. He's a journalist. He's got a consulting company. If he's not married off soon, I'm switching teams and grabbing him myself.
posted by anildash at 9:41 PM on April 12, 2001
posted by anildash at 9:41 PM on April 12, 2001
Wow, That was really moving, and as SpecialK mentioned, I too am in awe.
posted by riffola at 9:55 PM on April 12, 2001
posted by riffola at 9:55 PM on April 12, 2001
the realization that he made a difference and that he will continue to make a difference as a doctor must be the one of the most reassuring and satisfying moments of his career.
posted by register at 9:58 PM on April 12, 2001
posted by register at 9:58 PM on April 12, 2001
anil: rofl. Me, I'd say, "Does he have a sister?"
It's not just this one episode, either: Q may not get high marks for original links (I think the Click and Clack crew said they were all scammed from Metafilter), but it's the commentary and the ongoing sense of a life. Jason is just one blogger who's inspired me to change the direction of my own life.
posted by dhartung at 10:26 PM on April 12, 2001
It's not just this one episode, either: Q may not get high marks for original links (I think the Click and Clack crew said they were all scammed from Metafilter), but it's the commentary and the ongoing sense of a life. Jason is just one blogger who's inspired me to change the direction of my own life.
posted by dhartung at 10:26 PM on April 12, 2001
This a great dose of the real world not grumpy clients that want a website with more yellow, not someone saying it will take six weeks to procure one zip disk and having a fit, not someone saying they will fire all the contractors because they don't like having to use trouble tickets, not the bus being late, not getting stuck in traffic, and not you did not take out the trash.
This is a great perspective on real life matters with a life hanging by a thread.
posted by vanderwal at 5:47 AM on April 13, 2001
This is a great perspective on real life matters with a life hanging by a thread.
posted by vanderwal at 5:47 AM on April 13, 2001
Queso is a great read -- it's always a bummer when real life intrudes and he goes a few days without updating. He's also the only weblogger I know who has exchanged e-mail on constitutional matters with Lawrence Tribe.
posted by rcade at 6:00 AM on April 13, 2001
posted by rcade at 6:00 AM on April 13, 2001
What a fantastic story.
Lesson to be learned: Your doctor isn't always right. If, in your heart, you believe something is truly wrong, GO GET A SECOND (OR THIRD) OPINION!!
posted by goto11 at 7:05 AM on April 13, 2001
Lesson to be learned: Your doctor isn't always right. If, in your heart, you believe something is truly wrong, GO GET A SECOND (OR THIRD) OPINION!!
posted by goto11 at 7:05 AM on April 13, 2001
Reminds me of my never-published story of my first big case win. Sometimes it just all comes together and the outcome is right; Jason's good for bringing that home. And damn, for us wannabe medicos, that was better than an episode of ER! (Though I will admit that I have a nasty tendency to picture Jason as George Clooney ala Doug Ross. I can't help it!)
posted by Dreama at 8:12 AM on April 13, 2001
posted by Dreama at 8:12 AM on April 13, 2001
Wish I'd been blogging back when I was still a practicing RT. Some amazing things happen in a) the ER b) the ICU c) on any floor of the hospital.
Indeed, an amazing story. If you folks like that, you should befriend some Doctors, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, Paramedics, X-Ray Techs, ICU Workers, etc. We all have our stories.
If you all are moved, I would encourage you to go down to the hospital and volunteer. Get a taste of real life. It's really out there, and happening every day.
posted by artlung at 9:01 AM on April 13, 2001
Indeed, an amazing story. If you folks like that, you should befriend some Doctors, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, Paramedics, X-Ray Techs, ICU Workers, etc. We all have our stories.
If you all are moved, I would encourage you to go down to the hospital and volunteer. Get a taste of real life. It's really out there, and happening every day.
posted by artlung at 9:01 AM on April 13, 2001
my goal is to be working in the non-profit sector in another five years, to make up for my time in the world of advertising. I have always wondered how much all the dot com hype has influenced people who should be doctors and scientists...who should be doing amazing things like Jason...but who instead write marketing proposals or become HR managers for good money and stock options.
Excellent suggestion artlung.
posted by th3ph17 at 9:51 AM on April 13, 2001
Excellent suggestion artlung.
posted by th3ph17 at 9:51 AM on April 13, 2001
Wow. My eyes are still blurry. Thanks.
posted by Mars Saxman at 10:39 AM on April 13, 2001
posted by Mars Saxman at 10:39 AM on April 13, 2001
I used to work on a volunteer rescue squad more than a decade back. Most of our work was in the category of "scoop and run", but still it was a very invigorating and draining bit of work to do. During training, one of the instructors stressed that it takes a particular mindset to get up in the middle of the night and barge into the house of a complete stranger in order to perform first aid on a victim.
In my own case, the adrenaline kicked in when my beeper went off and it turned out that I could run the half mile to the station faster than I could get my recalcitrant car running and there. It was like a different personality took over or that I was taking in much more information than I normally do because details matter a lot (like noting when the stretcher won't make it past a tight turn in a hallway, what gear will be needed or might be needed past the immediate need and what can substitute in a pinch). Then adrenaline shut off about an hour and a half later and I was consistently useless at work the next day.
I enjoyed the training and learned some nifty skills, a lot of which have come in handy.
posted by plinth at 11:10 AM on April 13, 2001
In my own case, the adrenaline kicked in when my beeper went off and it turned out that I could run the half mile to the station faster than I could get my recalcitrant car running and there. It was like a different personality took over or that I was taking in much more information than I normally do because details matter a lot (like noting when the stretcher won't make it past a tight turn in a hallway, what gear will be needed or might be needed past the immediate need and what can substitute in a pinch). Then adrenaline shut off about an hour and a half later and I was consistently useless at work the next day.
I enjoyed the training and learned some nifty skills, a lot of which have come in handy.
posted by plinth at 11:10 AM on April 13, 2001
As soon as I've graduated from college (I'm working full time and going to night school) I'm planning on becoming a volunteer firefighter. I don't necessarily like medical happenings, or I'd be a volunteer paramedic. I wish I had the time now - but I work 50 hrs/week (or more) and going to school and doing homework...
I hate having to do certain long-term things in life until I can get to the point where I can do things I want to do.
posted by SpecialK at 11:48 AM on April 13, 2001
I hate having to do certain long-term things in life until I can get to the point where I can do things I want to do.
posted by SpecialK at 11:48 AM on April 13, 2001
I have worked as a Laboratory Technologist for for over 25 years. I have seen things that will rip your heart out and hand it back to you on a platter. A lot of what goes on in an ER is routine, but once in awhile you get a miracle and sometimes you don't. You just keep pulling for the miracle.
posted by bjgeiger at 2:03 PM on April 13, 2001
posted by bjgeiger at 2:03 PM on April 13, 2001
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posted by SpecialK at 9:35 PM on April 12, 2001