Resilience in the Margins: An Anesthesiology Intern’s Experience Caring for a Child with End-Stage Renal Disease During Training
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
10-18-2026
Abstract
A 27-year-old married anesthesiology intern entered residency as she became a mother. Within weeks, her newborn son was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. Her intern year unfolded in parallel—days in various clinical settings, nights performing peritoneal dialysis at home. Surgeries, hospitalizations, and uncertainty shaped both roles. Despite profound strain, she remained present as physician and mother while seeking a living kidney donor. Resilience here was not endurance alone, but purpose shaped by caregiving. Physician well-being depends on meaning, connection, and support—not individual effort alone. This case calls for training environments that recognize residents as whole individuals.
Recommended Citation
Brown H, Soto R. Resilience in the margins: an anesthesiology intern’s experience caring for a child with end-stage renal disease during training. Presented at: American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting; 2026 Oct 18; San Diego, CA. Available from: https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/21448/presentation/9200
Comments
American Society of Anesthesiologists, The Anesthesiology Meeting, October 16-20, 2026, San Diego, CA