In ICUs, the unvaccinated are silent, but as a doctor, I hope they can still hear my words – CBC

‘I don’t see politics, I see someone who needs my help,’ writes Edmonton doctor Raiyan Chowdhury

Sep 10, 2021

Can you hear that?

The rhythm filling the silence. The hiss representing your gasp for breath. The ventilator struggling to meet your inhale and exhale. It reminds me of the ocean. The crash of the tide hitting the beach and then slowly retreating.

It’s almost peaceful if it weren’t so mechanical. It’s almost soothing if it didn’t mean your life was so fragile. This ventilator and its cadence being the only thing that separates your life here and now from what lies beyond.

How did it come to this? Was it fear of the vaccine? Or narcissism? Or are you simply another victim of misinformation? We want to scream. We want to shout. If it would make a difference.

But we feel as silent as you.

For you, the tube connecting your lungs to the ventilator means that air can’t pass over your vocal cords, resulting in utter silence. And after 16 months, it seems Albertans are tired of hearing from us.

In ICUs, the unvaccinated are silent, but as a doctor, I hope they can still hear my words – CBC

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