Bed Quote by Jenny Downham
“And in bed, deep inside the building, are all the headaches that won't go away. The failed kidneys, the rashes, the ragged-edged moles, the lumps on the breast, the coughs that have turned nasty. In the Marie Curie Ward on the fourth floor are the kids with cancer. Their bodies secretly and slowly being consumed. And then there's the mortuary, where the dead lie in refrigerated drawers with name tags on their feet.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, 2010
The passage describes the pervasive, hidden suffering within a hospital, from chronic illnesses to terminal cases, highlighting the constant presence of pain and mortality.
In simple terms: Hospitals hold many hidden pains and deaths.
Key Takeaway
Recognize unseen suffering in care settings.
Themes
health
mortality
humanity
pain
compassion
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
narrative
emotive
When to use this quote
- patient care
- palliative work
- family support
- medical ethics
Key Concepts
suffering
mortality
hidden illness
hospital environment
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we honor patients' hidden struggles?
- What can we do to alleviate unseen suffering?
A Different Perspective
Pain and death coexist, but focus on hope and healing.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
