Dr. Bonnie Chen is no stranger to grief. The majority of her patients are facing a terminal illness and, as a palliative care doctor, her job is to help ease their symptoms. “It's a different kind of satisfaction than being able to fix someone or cure someone,” Bonnie told Anna, and she found pride in being able to offer comfort and have hard conversations about pain and about death, “I just always cherished that moment.”
And then, in the summer of 2022 her 16-month old son, Benji, died suddenly, and Bonnie found herself thrust on the other side of the medical system, and bowled over by her own deep grief. In this episode, Bonnie talks about how Benji’s death has changed the way she thinks about her job and how she talks to patients.
Read an essay Bonnie wrote for The San Francisco Chronicle titled, “As a doctor, I thought I was familiar with death. Until it came for my son.”
What Keeps Wendell Pierce Up At Night
Rent Is Due Tomorrow
Books We Love: A Big Conversation About "Big Friendship"
How Bobby Berk Became A Boss
A Widow’s Guide To Grieving
Books We Love: Michael Arceneaux’s “I Don’t Want To Die Poor”
What Money Can't Solve
Skin Hunger: Part 2
Skin Hunger: Part 1
When Six Feet Isn't An Option
An Essential Worker, Going Back In
I Love You, But There's This Money Thing...
"This Has Been A Long Time Coming."
Financial Therapy: How Much Should I Help My Family?
What Do You Need To Say Right Now?
Financial Therapy: Why Did I Take That Risk?
Financial Therapy: What Is Our Savings For?
Financial Therapy: Meet Amanda Clayman
Madeleine Albright On Ambition and Obsoleteness
What Is A "Good Death" During A Pandemic?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Today, Explained
The Daily
Stuff You Should Know
On Being with Krista Tippett
TED Radio Hour