JulieLeung.com: a life told in tidepools

I have completed more than 6 weeks of my 18 week marathon training plan and I’m beginning to realize how foolish I was. I don’t yet think I was foolish for running a marathon: no, I’m sure that will come later, during the race itself or afterwards. But I miscalculated the amount of time and [...]

[Read more →]

Seattle’s Virginia Mason Hospital made headlines last December when a patient died due to a simple medical error.

A Seattle hospital’s recent decision to switch antiseptics from a brown solution to a colorless liquid appears to have played a key role in the death of an Everett woman.
Mary McClinton, 69, a tireless worker for the [...]

[Read more →]

Sleeping on the sofa always indicates something is not right at home. Since I woke up sick on Saturday I’ve been alienated from my family by whatever virus has taken over my body. It seems strange to keep my loved ones at arm’s length, withholding hugs and kisses from my kids, waving good night to [...]

[Read more →]

scene from the hospital waiting room yesterday
Thinking about Michaela’s surgery yesterday, I realized I’d like to write up ideas from our experience that might help other families in a similiar situation. Here are 12 tips that came to mind.

Talk about it
Talk about it with the hospital staff. Ask questions.
Talk about it with the kids. [...]

[Read more →]

When I was younger, I’d extend myself while training, running as far and as fast as I could go, racing laps for the track and cross-country teams. I felt I had to push against the limits in order to make them move, in order to expand my expectations and achieve my (literal) milestones . I [...]

[Read more →]

While visiting a hospital clinic in Seattle today, I was surprised to discover reading material taped to the tile wall beside the restroom toilet: tips for a safer flu season from Dr. Jeff Duchin, Chief of Epidemiology, Public Health in Seattle and King County.
I thought that the cutest point, so to speak was Learn [...]

[Read more →]

Ted and Abigail had to go to soccer pictures early Saturday morning so I took Elisabeth and Michaela to the preschool gym class using the stroller and backpack. I figured why not?
the weater was accommodating
it was good exercise for me
we could test out the new system of sidewalks
I could use an energy source other [...]

[Read more →]

I’m starting to believe medication is a miracle - that is if one can afford to fill a prescription. My doctor gave me some trial samples and I called to get a prescription for more. However, my pharmacy notified me that our insurance would not cover this particular drug. So I had to go back [...]

[Read more →]

While reading Jon Udell’s piece describing medbloggers, I made a few notes.
First, I winced at the term Internet diary in an article Udell quoted - as if Kevin Pho MD is a teenage girl scribbling secret thoughts across the Web. There must be a better term to use to describe the tool of [...]

[Read more →]

When we moved to the island, I realized I needed a new way to exercise. Ted’s schedule changed so I wasn’t able to go for a walk or run outside before he left for work. I was pregnant and desperate. In this condition, I have made a few decisions that have impacted our lives…
At Sears, [...]

[Read more →]