Voices in Humanism

Strong women come from strong women.

My grandmother was born a Jewish mother.
She breathes it. Embodies it.
My mother was not born a Jewish mother
but rather
was destined to become one
like finding her Jewishness
was a pair of warm socks
that hug you just right at night.
She wanted me to be a doctor,
so naturally I didn’t, then I did.
She wanted me to marry a doctor,
so naturally I didn’t, then I did.
Can’t you just picture their soft voices
singing lullabies to me at night
invisible hopes rocking me
toward who they knew
I would be.

Jessica Rutsky, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellow
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
OSU College of Medicine Class of 2017
Vanderbilt University Class of 2012