So, here I am. Deep in the land of requirements, of stakeholder engagement, of explaining business needs to software developers.
Here I am, leading a project to build a knowledge base for perinatal services. Here I am, sitting through the perinatology orientation with grace, even though it is less professional knowledge and more personal history.
Here I am, late on a Tuesday night, pulling up the first-trimester vaginal bleeding decision tree. The software developer and my stakeholders walk through the assessment – is the cervix open, are HCG levels doubling, ultrasound, medical management of miscarriage, retained products of conception.
Here I am confirming – the developer is satisfied – he has what he needs to write code.
Here I am – the mother of dead children. Gasping at an inevitable cascade that cannot be stopped.
Here I am, as I have been for 14 years, 2 people in one.
Here I am ticking that agenda item off the list and moving on to the next.
For perhaps a split second, those 2 women were in the same place and a decision tree merges with memory.
And here I am wondering how the hell to ever reconcile this.
I sort of think that your perspective is, in some way, very useful to this project. I am not sure how, but I do believe in connections. Maybe it’s still too personal, though.
Oh, Cheryl. The pictures created by this post break my heart. Love.
I agree with a above that you may be the perfect person to work on this project. On the other hand, I’m sure it’s taking a lot out of you. (((hugs)))