–From “BEST OF 2022 EDITION” ChART Journal–

Title: The Wildflower

My first year of medical school I drew a very similar piece to this, but redrawing it was under much different circumstances. I did my ICU rotation in a pediatric cardiovascular ICU. I took care of a baby girl and grew very close to her parents. On my last day, her mom told me they called her “The Wildflower” because wildflowers can grow in any conditions. Hers was the first patient funeral I have ever attended, and this piece of art helped me reflect on my time with her.

MERRION DAWSON is an alum of the UACOMP Class of 2022. At the time of publication of this piece, she was a fourth year medical student. She is currently a Family Medicine resident physician. In her free time she loves to paint, draw, listen to books on tape and spend time with her family.