Jonna Carter: Heart and soul

As I write, a wonderful person I've had the great privilege of calling a friend is undergoing heart surgery at Maine Med. I thought I'd distract myself by writing about any of a plethora of issues, many of which I hope will not continue to define our current political climate, but I cannot keep my mind from circling back to the patient and his wife and family. As they await word, they can do little more than trust.

A few years ago, I was the one in the waiting room at Maine Med as my son was undergoing a lengthy procedure for a very dangerous condition. I know well the helplessness that permeates every thought and action as the minutes turn into hours. Aware that the highly skilled and specialized surgeons don't know everything, I had to trust that they knew enough — enough that just as I'd said goodbye to my son, I'd also be saying hello.