Shreya S. Tamma

The ICU nurse doesn’t look at the chart when she talks. “GCS four. Intubated, on propofol and fentanyl. No seizure activity overnight. Pupils sluggish but equal. Pressors stable.”

I glance back at the screen. “Oh,” I say, pointing. “And today’s her birthday, right?”

The nurse smiles. “Honey,” she says gently, “that’s what we put in the system for crash patients who come in alone. Until we know who they are, today has to be enough.”