Letter from the Editor:
Caring for One Another
by Tracy Granzyk
I’m encouraged to report that in only our second issue, our submissions have tripled. I can’t help but wonder if this issue’s theme of Pain is what drew so many people in. We chose this theme believing we would receive work that relieved suffering through art, work that assured readers they were not alone in their pain, and work that demonstrated triumph over the traumatic. In hindsight, it comes as no surprise that almost every submission braved the more painful threads of health-related experiences.
The stories contained within this issue illustrate that pain—mental, emotional or physical—is a signal for change, and does not have to be a constant state, no matter its origin. It can serve as a signal for growth or action, which includes death and dying, a new understanding or equilibrium. How we adapt and endure in response to any painful experience is where our stories are both similar and different, and they can offer hope or solace depending on the needs of the reader.
The writers and artists included in this issue are quite accomplished, and once again find us from all corners of the globe. Many are caregivers, patients, patient advocates, and healthcare providers. We have painters, best-selling authors, an epidemiologist, teachers, a surgeon, a pediatrician, a screenwriter, a psychiatrist, and poet laureates. They write with heart and humor and courage about a range of diseases and conditions and disorders such as dementia, cancer, addiction, and autoimmune disease. They confront the darkest corners of a parent’s cognitive decline, the loss of a baby born too soon, the suicide of a young adult son, and the complexity of secrets held to protect those we love. Every poem, piece of art, or story in this issue is a testament to the fact that no matter what our mind and body are forced to withstand, the human spirit is hard to break. We fight, and we strive for something better.
Reading submissions for this issue also reminded me of the idea that a nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members. If true, it seems we are failing right now. It has become challenging to find positive examples of those in leadership positions caring for and building others up. However, I had the good fortune of someone who is doing just that. I sat down with author and Emmy-winning film producer Alex Kotlowitz to discuss his latest book, An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago, for this issue. I have followed his intimate narratives about the social inequities and violence in my hometown of Chicago for almost thirty years. My work in healthcare has taught me that social determinants of health, such as the safety of and stress in the environment one lives in, contribute to the health disparities so prevalent across the country. I thought his book would provide insight into the violence driving health inequity through the eyes of those living these experiences. A deep read and a discussion with the author confirms that the violence is a symptom of larger, long-standing societal problems. Inadequate healthcare and violence in the at-risk communities Kotlowitz has spent his career describing seem to have a chicken-or-the-egg quality. Knowing that healthcare leaders have failed to make health equity a priority, I know we have to do better.
With our second issue complete, I am even more convinced that stories teach us how to be better humans. They reinforce the need to care for one another, and remind us that no matter how painful our circumstance, it is those we love and allow to love us who make life worth living. I also want to thank every writer and artist who submitted work. The collective courage of everyone in attempting to excavate art from pain is inspiring. The level of talent finding us continues to set the bar higher, which makes the decisions of our editorial staff increasingly difficult but wholly rewarding.
The theme for our March 2020 issue is Hope, and we are once again open for submissions. Be certain to check back on December 31st for our supplemental issue, which will highlight the group art and photography exhibit SOME PEOPLE (Every) Body. The exhibit explores the ethics, people, processes, and systems affecting the health of our society, and is curated by Kimberly J. Soenen.
Tracy Granzyk is the editor in chief of Please See Me.