Math genius

On Treatment
Written By Liz Salmi

Almost forgot!I had a minor partial seizure around 5 p.m. at work yesterday. My boss hung out with me as I took Ativan and slinked to the floor--assuming the "holy shit I could be flailing in a second" pose.I counted down from 100, subtracting by the number 7. Around the mid-40s I was totally out of it and D.C. (my boss) coached me through the math game.

"C'mon, Liz. What's 14 minus 7?""Um... 7.""So what's 44 minus 7?""37!"

Genius.Good timing as far as the seizure is concerned because I am going to see Dr. P tomorrow--my favorite tough-guy neurologist. (You know, the one who told me to stop crying about stupid shit and start worrying about more important things, like saving my life. I love doctors who tell it like it is.)

Liz Salmi

Liz Salmi is Communications & Patient Initiatives Director for OpenNotes at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Over the last 15 years Liz has been: a research subject; an advisor in patient stakeholder groups; a leader in “patient engagement” research initiatives; and an innovator, educator and investigator in national educational and research projects. Today her work focuses on involving patients and care partners in the co-design of research and research dissemination. It is rumored Liz was the drummer in a punk rock band.

https://thelizarmy.com
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