DREAMCATCHER
Le Capteur de Rêves
by
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Pretty Little Princess Pretty little Princess Lost in a merry-go-round of painful injections of endless medications A tormented ride With no fun at all Pretty little Princess Why do you look at me so angry These past years have been so unkind What is the point of living you ask If your heart beats in an empty soul? Pretty little Princess Building your tower of dreams To please your mother you loved so dear To calm another day she lived in fear Hoping you’d live another year Pretty little Princess Your time may be near But please don’t tear You’ve been such a dear And we’re all here Pretty little Princess I hear you breathing down the hallway Each breath a plea to keep your pain at bay We’re trying so won’t you please come stay with us a little longer We know there’s nothing you can’t conquer Pretty little Princess You’re so pale and tired now We’ve kept you more than time will allow Au revoir ma petite princesse, sleep well Before you take life’s final bow. Pretty little Princess You’ve been the sun in our lives All this time burning bright But every sun has to set So it may rise again, brighter than ever. #Inspiration: When a child is actively dying, it is truly a painful scene. Parents are desperate and in tears. The child is not willing to talk to anyone and is conserving her energy and focusing her attention only on the people who matter to her the most. The vitals are out of control. Medications are being stopped one by one till one questions why they were even started in the first place. The child deteriorates in a peaceful manner which is a tricky situation for the treating physicians and the family. The child is pale and it is a sad moment. Tears are shed by doctors and parents. Decisions are made and tough love plays a huge role for the child to suffer less. Accompanying the parent as a medical student during the palliative meeting for the child was a difficult moment and there were tears that clouded my eyes at moments but we had to be strong for the mother who was as fragile as a dandelion. It was a sad day and we could only hope for the best for our little princess.
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About the Book
DREAMCATCHER is an anthology of poems written in honour of all the children and their families with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses. These poems pay homage to the wonderful children and families I met during my clinical rotations across the world from Canada to the United Kingdom and Singapore in Paediatric Complex Care and Paediatric Palliative Care departments over the past year. They have taught me that there is light even in the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light. Like its predecessor Caught in the Mo(u)rning Rain, this collection aims to celebrate and appreciate life, pay tribute to the children we have lost, empower families and reach out to those who need a comforting word or two. There is a poem in here for anyone who needs one. I’ve always believed that anything is possible if you believe in your dreams. In this compilation you’ll find my dreams for a better and brighter tomorrow for these wonderful children and their amazing families. “Pravin’s poetry is therapeutic, giving voice to the “bravest of souls” while providing a catharsis for loss and grief. Deeply personal, Dreamcatcher is a breathtaking collection of poems dedicated to all the chronically or terminally ill children. This is an exquisite and tenderhearted read.” – The US Review of Books “Bravery in the face of tragedy, love in the midst of pain, skepticism locking horns with desperate hope - these poems show polar opposites precariously balanced on the whims of an ailment that goes its own way, regardless of the lives it breaks or uplifts. I encourage readers to find a poem or a story that they can hold close to their heart: there are plenty here, all testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Recommended.” - US Book Ideas
About the Author
“Writing a follow-up to Caught in the Mo(u)rning Rain was a daunting task because everyone expects it to be better. Indeed after travelling the world to see children and families with chronic complex or palliative conditions, this is a more mature collection of poems featuring honest sentiments. I have been blessed to have met wonderful and awe-inspiring people across the globe and it has taught me to continue chasing this dream. Dreamcatcher is an important anthology because it comes at a time when there is much-needed change and acceptance of Paediatric Palliative Care and Paediatric Complex Care. There is always hope for these children – let’s not forget them or leave them and their families behind. They deserve the right to lead a happy life just as much as any other normal child. I hope my message comes through and reaches out to all of you out there reading this. This is from my heart to yours. Peace, Pravin” R R Pravin is currently an undergraduate Year 5 medical student at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. He recently did clinical rotations with the Montréal Children’s Hospital Paediatric Complex Care Services Department and the Great Ormond Street Paediatric Palliative Care & Oncology Outreach Team. He also did local rotations at the KK Woman’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatrics Department and the National University Hospital of Singapore’s Child Psychiatry Department. He hopes to make a change in the lives of children all around the world with special needs and in the Complex Care as well as Palliative Programmes through his writing, a craft that will hopefully touch, mould, inspire & shape many lives in the future.