The Flickr Intensivecare Image Generatr

La réalité crue du contact permanent avec la souffrance et l'absurdité de la mort, l'inexorabilité des chiffres colorés que lui renvoyaient les cardioscopes, le bouillonnement du sang qui reflue dans la seringue à l'insertion d'un cathéter, loin de le convertir à un matérialisme dépourvu de hasard, lui semblaient autant de preuves du caractère fuligineux du réel.

Il avait vaguement conscience de repousser toute démarche active de son intelligence, mais son esprit pragmatique, sa culture scientifique, étaient à ce point empreints de romantisme et d'une teinte mystique, que quelque chose, malgré l'évidence, emportait sa conviction que ce monde régi par l'interaction subtile de champs électromagnétiques et de particules dont on ne sait pas bien où s'arrête leur vraisemblance, était une fantasmagorie issue de son propre champ de conscience.

Dramatic video portrait of an exhausted nurse or physician praying while taking off the protection surgical face mask in the hospital during Covid-19 pandemia

Galen Knight shares a plate of Tortilla Chips made into Nachos with her Blythe family and friends. She has made a dog friendly version found at Rover.com using sweet potatoes leftover from Cat Day. The cats didn't want any.

Dr Gale is one of our best examples of using education to fight gender bias, in this case becoming a certified Vet with the help of her mentor, Solki. For years she had been stuck in the role of veterinerary nurse because she was a girl.

Now settle down with some Nachos and listen to a very entertaining (and also very long) soliloquy.

Neonatal Intensive Care Ambulance

Thanks for viewing my photos - NO UNAUTHORISED USE

One day I’d just handed a patient over to A&E staff at the Southern General (or the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, or “Death Star”), when I noticed a slightly different and unusual ambulance parked up next to us - it was the ScotSTAR (Scottish Specialist Transport and Retrieval), Neonatal Ambulance based at Glasgow Airport. The staff were very friendly and happy to show me around their vehicle and to answer questions. If you have any, this link may help. www.neonataltransport.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011...


More photos from my time “on the road” with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

One day I’d just handed a patient over to A&E staff at the Southern General (or the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, or “Death Star”), when I noticed a slightly different and unusual ambulance parked up next to us - it was the ScotSTAR (Scottish Specialist Transport and Retrieval), Neonatal Ambulance based at Glasgow Airport. The staff were very friendly and happy to show me around their vehicle and to answer questions. If you have any, this link may help. www.neonataltransport.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011...


More photos from my time “on the road” with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

One day I’d just handed a patient over to A&E staff at the Southern General (or the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, or “Death Star”), when I noticed a slightly different and unusual ambulance parked up next to us - it was the ScotSTAR (Scottish Specialist Transport and Retrieval), Neonatal Ambulance based at Glasgow Airport. The staff were very friendly and happy to show me around their vehicle and to answer questions. If you have any, this link may help. www.neonataltransport.scot.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011...

More photos from my time “on the road” with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Dr Gale: I know you're feeling sad about your cousins losing their lifelong friend. If there is anything I can do, you know where to find me, Axl.

Dr Gale holds an open clinic at the Bigg Family Campground to distribute oral rabies vaccine treats for all the local pets and strays. The animals love them and their owners feel reassured that they will all be safer from the threat of rabies.

Thanks, Sally.

Jefa said the best way to explore my potential was to jump right in so I volunteered to say a few words of thanks. I know she has been very busy, so I am happy to do what I can. I had a look at the photos posted and I am impressed at how much variety can be inspired from a single word.

It is a coincidence that I arrived in time to participate in several of the prompts but it was fun to get to know the Biggs and their extended flickr family.

I see a lot of these photos have been shown before but they’re all new to me. It has been a great way to find out what my new siblings have been up to and get the lay of the land.

I look forward to getting to know the rest of you better in Lyndell’s group for September.

Your new friend,
Galen

Our Newest Blythe Finds Herself:

I am beginning to find myself after 17 years hiding in the dark. In the plastic world, existence has a timey-wimey element that doesn't always make sense in human terms. The Bigg Family is only partly human and its members can be young and old, serious and silly, intelligent and fanciful, sentient and innocent, imaginative and wise. Jefa is our voice and our experiences are coloured by her history which is often unleashed in a sea of words.

I wanted to be a doctor, but I was guided towards nursing as more befitting a girl. In college I discovered veterinary medicine which seemed to be less restricted by gender bias. Now that I can wear any hat, I choose to follow that path for which I am well qualified. My new sisters tease Solki for acting like an expert because she inherited a safari outfit but I probably understand better than anyone that the outfit allows her to assert her natural expertise and wisdom. She is no pretender. I will enjoy working with her and I'm sure we will be great friends.

After much thought I have decided on a name. As a student, my nickname was Florence Nightingale, but while she contributed greatly to the field of nursing, she wasn't very encouraging to the women who worked for her. One of the early medical movers and shakers was Claudius Galenus, often Anglicized as Galen, who lived from c129 – 216 AD. His theories were revolutionary for the time. The Greek word means calm, tranquil and peaceful. One of his treatises had the title: The Best Physician is Also a Philosopher. He was kind of sexist, too. Humanity has a long way to go there.

I don't need a surname, but Jefa's great-great grandmother had the surname Knight and she worked during the civil war as a volunteer nurse. I like the way it sounds with Galen -- sort of a flip of Nightingale.

Solki, as it happens, has a lot of official qualifications and has certified me to work in the Bigg Family Animal Wellness Clinic. She is helping me to become an official MRCVS (Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons). UK medical degrees can add a huge long string of letters after your name. I asked her what letters she had and she gave me a folder full of papers. Among them are letters for specialties in Marine Biology, a European College of Zoological Medicine diploma in Herpetology (reptiles), Masters and Phds in several disciplines and a position of Senior Lecturer at the The Royal (Dick).

Yes, it's a real thing: The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, founded in 1823 by William Dick. See how important a name is?

So my official title for now is Galen Knight BSc (Hons) CWCVS. This means I have a Bachelor of Science degree with honours from the CWC in Veterinary Science. The animals I've met are already calling me Dr Gale. I consider it a form of endearment.

Dr Solki Blythe is a doctor on more levels than anyone can imagine. I am lucky to have her as a mentor.

The New Girl* talks to Dr Solki Blythe about the animals she will be helping to care for.

* Who eventually found her identity as Dr Gale.

The New Girl stands for the first time out of the box in which she has been trapped for 17 years. Welcome, Little One.

Takara petite Blythe Intensive Care ready for unboxing. I love the way the wall behind me is reflected in her window.

The new girl gets some things off her chest.

New Girl: Off the top of my head -- I'm not sure whether this hat is a symbol of my graduation or a burdensome appendage. Ms Betty got a diploma and a mortarboard and both are put away in a box. Is it something I can take off and put on a shelf when I want to be someone else for a minute? I've had seventeen years in that box to think about it. I can't take it off by myself -- my arms don't reach. It's been on my head since I graduated from nurse's training. If I shake my head it doesn't budge an inch. Is it glued on?

If you say that someone is wearing a particular hat, you mean that they are performing a particular role at that time. If you say that they wear several hats, you mean that they have several roles or jobs. If your hat is permanently stuck on, does that mean you are limited to that one narrow function?

And the uniform. Several people have said how cute it is, but they don't think about it. The designers at CWC obviously thought it was a nurse's uniform, but it is the pinafore of the American Candy Striper (a volunteer job done by teenage girls) that hasn't been worn for at least 25 years. The few boys who volunteered didn't wear them. I looked it up on the internet and at one hospital they are now called Junior Volunteers and wear teal polo shirts and khaki trousers, regardless of gender.

Now male and female nurses alike wear colourful scrubs instead of the old-fashioned uniforms and hats. Not sexist and much more practical.

To top it off, they name me Intensive Care when my training has been much broader than that. I have a bachelor's degree in veterinary science and practical skills in veterinary and human first aid. And the book they included was written for a baby.

Jefa: Is there anything you ARE happy about?

New Girl: Well, yes. I like the underwear. It would have been nice to have a matching top so I could go swimming. And my new home. I really like it here. Thanks for adopting me.

Jefa: Look, I've rolled down the brim of the hat to reduce the profile. Let's see if we can find a hat to cover it while I figure out how to remove it from your hair.

New Girl: Pascal says I should not let you near my braid.

Jefa: Ha, ha! Actually, she has a good point there. I will do everything in my power to keep it for you.

Jefa: Here are some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for you girls.

New Girl: Oh, thank you. It's very big and I'm hungry...

Jefa: I'm sensing a "but..." here. Feel free to say what you like.

New Girl: Well, I don't want to complain but I don't much care for jelly and I like to leave the crusts on. I always cut the bread in rectangles instead of triangles. They fit in my pocket better when I'm working with the animals. I'm happy making my own sandwiches. I'm happy helping however I can.

Jefa: Ha, ha! A girl after my own heart. I like the crusts, too and I hate triangles. All the filling is in the middle and there is never enough in the corner bites. My favourite is peanut butter and banana. Or peanut butter and mayonnaise. Or peanut butter and butter.

New Girl: Banana might be good. There is already enough fat in the peanut butter, though.

Jefa: Mr Bigg makes mine on fruit loaf, but he spreads the peanut butter a little thin. He doesn't like gooey stuff.

New Girl: What's fruit loaf?

Jefa: It's kind of like raisin bread but it has pieces of dried fruit in it. Very nice. Next time I'll let you try some of mine and see if you like it. How are you settling in?

New Girl: Thank you so much. I'm still meeting everyone and trying to find out where I belong. Everyone has been so friendly.

Jefa: Any thoughts on a name yet?

New Girl: Many! I'll let you know.

New Girl: Did you all get to pick your own names?

Pascal: I suppose some of us did. Some came with names that suited. Others struggled at first picking one until their personalities gelled.

New Girl: I notice a lot of the girls have names that sound like names for guys.

Pascal: Jefa is a bit twisted. She likes names that break with tradition. And puns.

New Girl: How do you mean?

Pascal: Well, my official Takara name is Fancy Pansy. The French word for pansy is la pensée which also means thought. As a teenager Jefa was in love with a 17th century mathematician/philosopher named Blaise Pascal. A book of his thoughts on religion was published after he died called Pensées. So she made the connection of Pansy/Pensées/Pascal. I heartily approved.

New Girl: And what about Lyle?

Pascal: That's kind of a cool story. When the first Art Attack arrived she called her Tate because of the Tate Gallery in London. Nobody questioned it. But then Art Attack 2 came who had a bunch of stock things that Tate needed. They were obviously a pair but it was a little trickier. After reading up on Sir Henry Tate, Jefa discovered there was a connection between the wealthy sugar refiner philanthropist, who gave both the building and his collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings to the nation and Abram Lyle, who moved his sugar hauling business to London from Scotland and developed an equally successful refinery. The two were bitter rivals before they died, but in 1921 their sons agreed to merge and form the sugar company, Tate and Lyle. The names were perfect for the two sweet Art Attack sisters.

New Girl: Great story. It gives me an idea.

Pascal: Of course some of the girls kept their official names: Goldie, Rosie, Tsuki Usagi, Cherry Berry, Lily Wild and Roxy Baby, though Roxy has restyled her name to suit her profession as a detective and now goes by DS RB Latte.

New Girl: You have professions?

Pascal: Some do. Others dream of them. There is, of course, Dr Solki Blythe who considers herself an expert in many fields since she got that outfit. And Pinkie has her own tailor shop, Sewing My Way, where many of us work. I like to write. Some of us are still students.

New Girl: Oh, here comes Jefa with some food. Yay!

created for
BaD 27 August 2022: Brew for Two

Pascal: Jefa says she needs our help with Intensive Care. Someone's in here. Are we getting a new sister? What's her story?

Lyle: I think Jefa wants us to get her out of the box. Intensive Care -- Is that her name? Seems ridiculous.

Pascal: No more ridiculous than Art Attack. The tape has been cut -- just slide it open. Hello! We'll have you out in a jiffy. Lyle, you untie her feet and I'll get the wire in the back.

New Girl: Thank you. I've been stuck here for a long time and I feel stiff. What's it like here in North Lanarkshire?

Lyle: It's a lovely place but we're all still getting used to things. The Biggs moved here almost two years ago but they're still unpacking. That should do it. Now just step down.

New Girl: My hair seems to be trapped. I still can't move.

Pascal: I see what it is. There. Let me warn you, though. If you are at all attached to that braid, don't let Jefa come anywhere near it. Once it's down, there's no going back!

Jefa: Here, little one. I found this stand under the shelf for the book. Now you can get up.

New Girl: Thank you, Mrs Bigg. It works, but you know I feel kind of trapped -- just like standing in the box. Do you have any more stands like Pascal and Lyle have? They seem to be able to move around quite well.

Jefa: I think we can work something out. And call me Jefa. What shall we call you?

New Girl: Let me think about that.