How We Opened Up About Soraya’s Health

With all the media coverage of our family recently (it’s been wonderful to receive so many supportive messages!), it may be surprising to learn that I haven’t always been so open in sharing what’s going on with Soraya’s health.

I have been resistant to accepting what’s happening. It’s often easier to “pass” when people ask how my family is doing by saying “Fine” – I have done that with my patients and even with my own extended family. Saying what is truly happening in our home comes with a lot of reactions that cause me anxiety, including sobbing, awkward silence, and/or dismissing our reality. It’s a lot to take on on top of my own emotions.

While these reactions may still occur, I feel MUCH better equipped knowing that I am turning my resistance into acceptance of what is happening and realizing others may have their own process in accepting this awful reality.

With my patients, I have really kept my personal and work lives separate.  However, I’m realizing that the lines of medicine and motherhood are blurring for me. Having my patients see me as a whole is me being authentic in who I am, even if it’s scary to show the world how messy our lives are when we are in such a professional view.

Not sharing made it more isolating. So here I am.

I am not feeling like an inspiration. I am feeling like I am still fumbling around this parenthood and life thing. I am sharing our life and what I learn along the way in case it helps others. We can be a mess AND inspire each other.

Many of my family, friends, and patients are learning about our family alongside strangers. How wild is that?!

Check out some of the old throwbacks of how we shared with loved ones below…