Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash It was the end of a long day of operating and we’d finished more cases than we’d set out to complete. Drearily my eyes looked across the operating room and caught Steven’s gaze, as he longingly studied the clock. It was nearly home time. “So what are you eating tonight?”…
Saying goodbye to my patients — The power of relationships
Photo by Jake Thacker on Unsplash “Anne, I think the reason that you’ve been more forgetful lately is because you have early dementia….” my voice cracked with emotion as I delivered the bad news. I’d never cried infront of a patient before but sheer will couldn’t contain the salty tears that flowed down my cheeks. Anne’s…
To my brown eyed boy
Two years ago our family welcomed Benjamin Frederick Ramachenderan into the world. Like many babies, his birth was expected and well prepared for. He received the best in evidenced based antenatal care and his mother nurtured him well, as she looked after her body and kept herself healthy. He was the youngest, born into a…
How to perform a wedding anniversary health check
The one thing that I am learning as I progress through my life is, how much noise and opinion there is in my world and how this often holds me back from trusting my instincts and moving forward. My gut has always told me that the health of your marriage matters the most as you…
How to choose the beautiful imbalance of life over work
“Jonathan I just can’t seem to get an appointment to see you, don’t you work in the afternoon anymore?”, a long term patient asked me as we entered my office. “No, I try to get home most days to be around with the boys and Kylie, it really helps at that time of the day”, I…
The power and purpose of failure
Summary: Failure can be a powerful catalyst for self-examination and feedback on your life. In the right hands with the right mindset, failure can be a powerful catalyst to personal growth. Take home message: The purpose of failure is feedback. The power of failure is unlimited. Key beneficiaries: Those willing to step outside their comfort zone…
I think that your life is making you tired
Summary: In the absence of disease, a busy life lacking personal replenishment is detrimental to your health and future Take home message: Reverse engineer the type of life that you desire, cut out the distractions, live intentionally and replenish yourself daily Key beneficiaries: Anyone who lives in this busy, distracted and connected world! Time to read: 8 minutes…
How to be a standout health professional in the current aged care landscape
“Jonathan, there is a phone call for you” my wife called out from the kitchen. It was 9pm and Jenny, one of senior registrered nurses from the nursing home was on the line. “I think Howard’s declining quickly Jonathan, the carers have just taken him back to bed and they’ve said that he’s had trouble…
An unexpected journey into aged & palliative care
Albany wind farm This post is a year overdue. If I were to have written this in April 2015, the title would have been “The tale of two deaths” where I would have reflected upon the peaceful, managed and expected passing of a 93-year-old aged care patient contrasted with the tragic accidental death of a…
How to use your words to powerfully give hope
A few months ago, I made a patient cry. His body shook as tears ran down his face, faster than he could wipe them away. I had told him the truth. It wasn’t what he had expected to hear from his doctor, nor was it something that he had ever heard from anyone else. It had…
36 thoughts on my 36th birthday
These are my reflections, predictions, deepest desires and thoughts on my 36th birthday. 1) As I grow older, the worries can mount and the joy can be eroded and the excitement fade BUT my God, my Jesus and my saviour fills me with his spirit daily and I am growing deeper in love with him….
How to use the power of compounding to improve your marriage in the early years
Summary: Whether you like it or not, the power of compounding is at work in your marriage in the positive aspects together with those you wish to keep hidden. Take home message: Small instances of love every day compound into the reward of a great and thriving marriage. Learn your spouse’s language of love and…
