Jacquelyn Leung is a New Jersey-based family physician and science writing graduate student at Johns Hopkins University.
“My job is to be completely present and offer unconditional love,” Aya Sato writes in “Shift/Change” (Intima, Spring 2018) as she reflects on her experience as an abortion doula. Through an unflinching narrative, Sato describes her role during a person’s first-trimester abortion. I find it so compelling and universal how Sato describes the women she encounters at the urban abortion clinic. The 14-year-old who has never had a pelvic exam. The pastry chef. The Bangladeshi woman with four kids. Each person handles their abortion differently; some want Sato to talk about nonsense to distract them from their thoughts. Others cry, need to sleep, or hold her hand tightly. Some are nervous, and others are giddy. These are women we see in everyday life. They are our friends, neighbors, teachers, and sisters.
I admire the clarity of Sato’s mission and her ability to provide comfort. Indeed, I believe that is the role of all healthcare professionals—to offer humanity, as a humble gift, to another person. In my non-fiction essay “Abortion Waiting Rooms” (Intima, Fall 2022), I struggled with how to balance compassion with understanding my patients’ abortion stories. I was mostly an observer—and at times felt like an imposter—but by leaning on the experience of these women, I was able to appreciate the depth of their personal decisions. Like Sato, I hope to give myself wholly to patients who need support, understanding, and love. Perhaps that is the greatest professional calling.
Jacquelyn Leung is a New Jersey-based family physician and science writing graduate student at Johns Hopkins University. Her favorite writing partner is her dog, Archie. Find more about her at www.jackieleungmd.com.