Team Time after a tough week

It’s been a tough week and as we gather for Team Time I feel a sense of people not knowing where to begin. 

We’ve had hundreds of kids through the door, two cardiac arrests, many very sick children and the funeral of one of our long term patients. 

As I ask the team “what’s on your mind?” I can feel them processing the week in the silence that follows. In a break from the norm, I am the one to speak first. I tell them about the funeral and the great strength shown by the child’s family. I say that I am constantly awestruck and inspired by the ability of families to bear the things that life throws at them. I am moved that a child has the courage to say “I’ve had enough; I’m not going to fight any longer. Let me go” and that his parents can respect his wishes. 

And then others start opening up too. Sharing feelings and emotions. Reflecting on some of our other long term patients. Wondering what they would say if some of them who are non-verbal could speak. 

Some of what we share is hard to hear. The emotions are raw. This is so immediate. Thoughts being processed out loud, in the moment.  

Someone says how much they have valued teamwork this week and all of a sudden we are talking about positive things: how we have pulled together, that there’s a sense of solidarity, that being kind to each other is so important. Our fifteen minutes is nearly up and with hardly any facilitation at all the group have run through a world of emotions. 

This is one of the many things I love about this team: their ability to be honest. To share themselves with each other and with the families they care for. We go back to work with a little more understanding of our teammates and maybe a bit more strength to face whatever comes next.