Acknowledgement: This poem, originally written by Olivia Thompson, was provided to Patient Worthy by our friends at Elephants & Tea. To see the original, please click here.

One welcomes a baby,
filled with soft cries and loud joy.
The other says goodbye to her breasts,
stitched in silence, wrapped in loss.

One learns how to breastfeed,
a bond that can’t be broken.
The other grapples with the truth,
she will never have the chance.

One starts a new adventure,
cradling hope in tiny hands.
The other prepares for war,
her body both battleground and casualty.

One leaves with balloons and baby blankets,
arms full, heart fuller.
The other leaves with scars and missing pieces,
arms empty, yet carrying so much.

Two hospital rooms,
two different lives,
both forever changed.