climbing a tree 
slippery branches 
pavement 

The pager buzzes—eight-year-old, level-two trauma, head injury. When I arrive, a narrow gurney is wheeled past with a young girl wrapped in space blankets. A woman stops at the door to trauma room three and stands there crying. Three doctors come out and form a ring around her.

“Hello. I am Dr. S, the attending physician for the emergency room. I am here to take care of Amanda. I will be overseeing the exam and will communicate with you as we proceed.”

The next doctor steps forward. “I am Dr. M. My specialty is pediatric brain injuries. I am here to take care of Amanda. We will be performing a number of tests to determine the extent of the injury.”

A third doctor steps forward—short, with a friendly face. “I am Dr. W, the physician in charge of pediatric emergencies. We will examine Amanda and will communicate with you as we proceed.”

Dr. W hands the young mother a box of tissues and touches her shoulder. Then turns and walks back into trauma room three. The mother is left alone in the hallway. I approach her from the side so I can see her face. She is bent over, crying. I kneel on the floor so I can find her eyes.

“Hello. I am Stephen, the hospital chaplain. I am here to take care of ... you.”

Bio: Stephen W. Leslie