Everything Is An Emergency

Authored by Bess Stillman, 'Everything Is An Emergency' explores the intertwining of life, death, and healthcare through personal essays. Centered around coping with her husband Jake's battle against cancer, Stillman delves into themes of love, loss, the essence of 'home', and the intricacies of healthcare and clinical trials.

Life and Death Love and Relationships Health and Healthcare Cancer and Clinical Trials Writing and Reflection Science and Research Personal Growth and Self-Reflection

The hottest Substack posts of Everything Is An Emergency

And their main takeaways

Phone Calls To Tongueless Men

1121 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Mar 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness
  1. In a crisis, the healthcare system's communication challenges can be overwhelming, especially for patients with disabilities like being tongueless. A more flexible and tech-savvy approach is needed for patient communication.
  2. Healthcare providers often struggle with adopting technology, leading to outdated practices like pagers and fax machines. This hinders streamlined care and communication.
  3. Support and coordination from loved ones are crucial in navigating the complexities of the healthcare system, demonstrating the importance of human touch in a system often overwhelmed by bureaucracy.

Pulse Check: "Does OTC nasal spray Azelastine hold a key to COVID and respiratory virus prevention and treatment?"

645 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Jan 24
  1. Azelastine nasal spray may be repurposed to help fight COVID and respiratory viruses with its anti-inflammatory effects and potential to decrease viral load.
  2. Studies show that Azelastine can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus replication in nasal tissue culture and decrease viral load in high-risk patients, which could reduce infectivity.
  3. Despite mixed results in symptom improvement, Azelastine's potential to reduce viral load makes it worth considering for larger-scale studies, especially as a prevention option for those unwilling or unable to take Paxlovid.

mRNA vaccines: let's be sick a whole lot less and maybe cure cancer

112 HN points ā€¢ 05 Mar 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Vaccines Chronic Illness Cancer Research
  1. Developing drugs that target pathways triggered by pathogens can lead to faster, more effective treatments for various diseases, even when the specific pathogen is unknown.
  2. mRNA vaccines are faster, cheaper, and more flexible to make than traditional vaccines, offering a promising future in preventing infections and addressing persistent pathogens like herpes.
  3. mRNA vaccines have the potential to be used as personalized cancer vaccines by instructing the body's cells to create proteins that trigger an immune response against cancer cells, showing great promise in cancer treatment and immunotherapy.

"Pulse Check": The Guide to Choosing a Healthcare Facility

339 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Jan 24
  1. Consider starting with your primary care provider when seeking healthcare
  2. Urgent care is good for minor illnesses and injuries, but if in doubt head to the ER
  3. Telehealth can be a convenient option for minor symptoms, but in-person exams are irreplaceable for accurate diagnoses

I'm homeless if Jake is not my home

645 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Nov 23
  1. The deep connection and sense of home Jake provides is vital for the author, especially during difficult times.
  2. The author finds comfort and belonging in being physically present and emotionally supportive for Jake in the hospital.
  3. Despite external circumstances changing, the essence of 'home' remains in being together with Jake, even if the physical spaces change.
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What's it like being married to a dying man?

1087 implied HN points ā€¢ 28 Aug 23
  1. Clarity in difficult times can bring profound realizations about life and love.
  2. Facing the possible loss of a loved one can lead to prioritizing what truly matters.
  3. Appreciating the time and relationships we have now is a gift to cherish.

Remembering things that haven't happened yet

166 HN points ā€¢ 12 Dec 23
  1. Remembering the past helps illuminate our present and prepare for the uncertain future.
  2. Creating videos of loved ones can serve as a way to remember and find comfort in times of loss.
  3. Anticipating future needs is challenging and may require external insights from loved ones.

Jake's Writing: links to the Story's Story

203 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Oct 23
  1. The post highlights Jake's incredible writing on various deep and personal topics.
  2. It encourages readers to explore Jake's perspectives and stories through provided links.
  3. Upcoming content includes a three-part series on clinical trials and a guide for navigating the process.

On Writing (or not) Part Two: Death is the Ultimate Deadline

169 implied HN points ā€¢ 14 Sep 23
  1. All writing projects have a deadline, just like life itself.
  2. Don't let distractions or excuses stop you from writing regularly.
  3. Collaboration can be a powerful motivator and source of inspiration in writing.

Please be dying, but not too quickly, part 2: The patient's perspective

115 HN points ā€¢ 20 Oct 23
  1. Navigating the process of clinical trials for a patient can be complex and frustrating.
  2. Some hospitals were more helpful and receptive in providing information and assistance for clinical trial enrollment.
  3. Telemedicine restrictions and lack of remote screening appointments can make the process inefficient for both patients and researchers.

Days of Awe: The clinical trial drug that might save my husband's life

105 HN points ā€¢ 02 Oct 23
  1. The clinical trial drug 'petosemtamab' offers hope for treating recurrent metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, providing a potential lifeline for the author's husband.
  2. The author reflects on the significance of the Jewish High Holidays in the context of their journey to save their husband's life through medical treatments like the clinical trial drug.
  3. The emotional rollercoaster of hope, desperation, and resilience is vividly portrayed through the author's account of navigating challenges and pleas for additional time together.

On Writing (or not): Part One

56 HN points ā€¢ 13 Sep 23
  1. The author reflects on their bad writing habits and the impact of external circumstances on their writing motivation.
  2. The author discusses the struggle with self-doubt, self-criticism, and fear of failure in their writing process.
  3. The importance of seeking help, overcoming resistance, and embracing the process of experimentation and learning in writing.

In defense of boring.

4 HN points ā€¢ 05 Feb 24
  1. Sometimes, stability and lack of change can be a source of comfort and relief.
  2. Embracing routine and familiarity can provide a sense of security during difficult times.
  3. In the face of uncertainty, finding solace in mundane activities and moments can bring joy and hope.

From strangers to lovers in the emergency room: A (sort of) love story

3 HN points ā€¢ 14 Feb 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Patient Care
  1. The emergency room can be a place where unexpected connections and love stories unfold, even in the midst of chaotic situations.
  2. Working in the emergency room requires a balance of empathy, efficiency, and quick decision-making to handle the constant flow of patients and unexpected incidents.
  3. The atmosphere of a city's summer nights can bring an additional layer of intensity to hospital shifts, impacting both patients and healthcare workers.

The unexpected gift of long COVID: could new research treat chronic fatigue syndromes and cure cancer?

2 HN points ā€¢ 27 Feb 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Chronic Fatigue Immune Response
  1. Research on long COVID is shedding light on understanding chronic fatigue syndromes and mysterious symptoms previously dismissed as psychosomatic.
  2. The development of COVID mRNA vaccines is not only promising for preventing diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's but also accelerating cancer treatment research.
  3. Women's medical complaints, often dismissed as psychosomatic, are gaining attention with the study of PAISes, potentially destigmatizing long-dismissed conditions.

Cancer Speaks Its Own Language

2 HN points ā€¢ 13 Feb 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Illness Recovery Communication Relationships Identity
  1. Spending words is like spending life - where you talk the most reveals what matters; in tough times, the language shifts too.
  2. Illness deepens connections but creates barriers - caregiving alters identities and relationships, demanding new ways of communication.
  3. Silence can reshape you - forced quietude can lead to brain changes, highlighting the power of language and connection in human experience.

Attachment is suffering, attachment is love

10 HN points ā€¢ 01 Sep 23
  1. Attachment can bring both suffering and love.
  2. Processing grief and loss can impact how we engage with life and relationships.
  3. Transforming love and attachment can guide us toward new connections and growth.

Please be dying, but not too quickly: a clinical trial story

6 HN points ā€¢ 19 Oct 23
  1. Navigating the modern clinical trial system can be incredibly difficult and confusing for patients and their loved ones.
  2. Finding the right clinical trial involves a complex process of searching through numerous studies with varying eligibility criteria and phases.
  3. AI companies offering clinical trial matching services still face challenges in providing comprehensive and accurate results due to the limitations of current data sets and structures.

Seven days of silence: a chatterbox's lament

1 HN point ā€¢ 25 Jan 24
  1. A vocal cord surgery forced the author to stay silent for a week, making them question their identity.
  2. The author found that not speaking led to self-reflection and a re-evaluation of the importance of words.
  3. Through silence, the author discovered an unexpected inner peace and realized the power of listening over speaking.