Carolyn's Story
English
English with Korean subtitles
When Carolyn’s mother told her, “He’s just tired; he needs to work less,” Carolyn suspected that something more was going on. She flew to visit her parents in Hawaii and learned that he was dying of liver cancer, the result of chronic hepatitis B. Carolyn regrets how quickly her father’s health deteriorated, and yet she cherishes the time they spent together in the hospital. She recognizes that the experience helped her find compassion for her patients, in her own work as a nurse.
Discussion Questions and Answers:
What caused Carolyn to worry about her father’s health? (The fact that her mother had been saying for months that her father was tired, didn’t feel well, and had a chronic cough.)
Carolyn states that she understands why her father was reluctant to share his hepatitis B status with her and her sister; what reasons does she give for his decision? (Her father’s desire to see his daughters live their own lives rather than having to worry about his health.)
How might things have been different, if Carolyn’s father had disclosed his status earlier? (They could have spent more time together. Carolyn and her sister could have advocated for him to seek treatment earlier, which may have prevented the cancer from developing.)
Carolyn's story is available in English and with Korean subtitles.