Muy Valiente

Allison Briggs, M4, Class of 2019

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” The words read on Sunday came floating back into my mind as I wiped the dried blood off my 10-year-old patient’s foot, ankle, and shin. Her earlier crying had quieted to the occasional sob, and she was laying back on the emergency room gurney. Ten new stitches sat in a row underneath her knee, holding together her cut from the playground. I peeked a glance when I knew she was looking away, unable to stop checking that everything was in place.

Community: an Antidote to the Medical School Vacuum

Nathan Stacy, M1, Class of 2022

Do any of you feel a little bit…empty in medical school? If you don’t, you should read this anyways. But if so, you are definitely not alone. In fact, you have that in common with a majority of your fellow mid-20’s millennials. Referring to this time as a ‘quarter life crisis’ is no longer tongue-in-cheek. While we are accomplishing tasks, deepening our medical knowledge, and strengthening our resumes, there are many questions that can bubble up under the surface of this busyness: Is all of this worth it? Will it provide me a fulfilling and sustaining life? What do I have outside of medicine?

A Friend

Justin Coogle, M4, Class of 2019

Justin Coogle is a published writer of the Kingdom Come series.

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1 year before the events of Kingdom Come

I MISS MY old school, this new one is too lonely. No one is interested in being friends with me here, it’s probably because I came in late. I used to try to sit with a group of other boys during lunch, but they kept ignoring me. My teacher is really nice, her name is Miss Flora. She says that she is a master gardener and that we are her valuable flowers. I don’t like being called a flower. Flowers get stepped on a lot. The bell is about to ring for recess and my hands are sweaty. I can’t say I want to use the bathroom this time, I just went a few minutes ago. Maybe if I said I was sick? But I don’t look real sick, and I don’t want Miss Flora to think I am a liar. I really don’t want to go to recess. There is no where I can hide from them.

Reflections on The Cantaloupe Knee and Self-Driving Heart Attack

Stefano Byer, M1, Class of 2022

“In examining disease, we gain wisdom about anatomy, physiology, and biology. In examining the person with disease, we gain wisdom about life.” 

-Oliver Sacks

“Stefano, I have an odd question for you – are these people that we’re about to help, these Dominicans and Haitians, are they really the same as we are?”

B Week

Brennan Lee, M2, Class of 2021

B week. I’m tired

Few more nights, then a break. Wait

Next test is two weeks

Kakra Boye-Doe, Class of 2022

In celebration of Black History Month, this month’s narratives are dedicated to highlighting the voices of students who identify as black. Each story is unique, intimate, and powerful. Readers, please come open-minded and ready to engage with the following stories. More importantly, be ready to interface with an intimate space and allow yourself to step inside someone else’s life. The following is the narrative of Kakra Boye-Doe, a first-year medical student at KUMC. Enjoy.

Note: The third interview question is credited to the NYT article “The 36 Questions that Lead to Love.” The interview has been condensed for length and clarity.

Blown Glass: A Collection

Meg Detwiler, M1, Class of 2022

Giving All Diligence – song by Alex Allen

Featuring Connor Stubblefield, M1, Class of 2022

Burner – Everett the Grey

Alex Hill, M1, Class of 2022

• Find more music by Alex Hill on his soundcloud channel: https://soundcloud.com/oopsalexdied
• And on his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLSaE6mcmDl_8yX_WIpMVg
• Stay updated on his upcoming live shows on Facebook:
  https://www.facebook.com/OopsAlexDied/

Human Photo Copy Machine: A Series of Photorealism Portraits

Lacey Greve, M1, Class of 2022

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  This was one of the first photorealistic portraits I attempted. I got a book from the public library on how to draw portraits. I was probably 9 or 10 years old and followed the step by step instructions and this was the result.

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  I branched out on this one and it has elements of photorealism but did not come from a photo. Its also not done in pencil or charcoal which is my usual medium so it’s a fun change!

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  These are all celebrity portraits I did. They are very fun because people recognize who they are and they make fun decoration.