Baltimore, MD – Those who have been up close for CPR know both the power, relief, and the anguish that can come along with a procedure that sometimes delivers incredible results but always carries tremendous significance for patients and families. While CPR used in the right context saves lives, CPR was never intended to reverse the natural process of dying from chronic medical illness. In this context, the procedure is still laden with meaning, symbolism, and hope, but the results are rarely like we see in movies. I made this piece for Topic Magazine in 2019 for their issue on “modern rituals,” and it was nominated for an Ignatz Award for Best Webcomic. Topic closed its magazine a few years ago and just recently stopped hosting its online pages for such pieces, so I’m reposting the piece here in its entirety for anyone who would like to be able to access it. (I also have a pile of hard copies in a cardboard box gathering dust in my office if anyone wants those, haha.)
Nathan Gray, MD
The Ink Vessel 