Meredith Grey quotes from Grey's Anatomy

Meredith

[voice over] Surgeons are put through rigorous tests just to get in the game. We endure decades of anxiety-provoking acronyms SAT, MCAT, USMLE, ABSITE. And if we pass that gauntlet we are rewarded with the need to log 850 surgeries and take an 8-hour multiple-choice and oral exam. There's almost no time to take in the victory or even a nap.

Meredith

[voice over] Researchers studied why some people perform better on tests. They found that it's not necessarily related to intelligence. Some people become anxious during exams and divert mental energy toward anxiety instead of expending it on finding the right answers. Others have a better grasp of how tests work. They use process of elimination and other techniques to help them make better choices. Some people study harder. They start early, make flashcards rely on repetition to retrieve answers when they need them. Tests don't always measure how much you know. They measure how well you take tests. And tests certainly don't measure your worth. But knowing that doesn't make it hurt less when you don't succeed.

Meredith

[voice over] In 2019, the World Health Organization officially recognized burnout in its International Classification of Diseases. Studies show that doctors who report signs of burnout have enlarged amygdalas, the area in the brain that regulates fear and aggression. But burnout isn't an academic exercise. It's an all-consuming, systemic condition. It's your entire body sending you one clear message.

Meredith

[voice ove] Put simply, burnout comes from a deep imbalance. Too much stress with too few rewards. You're exhausted, depleted. You no longer have patience, pleasure, or serotonin. This is the end, unless you turn it into something else and find your path to recovery. Pick the pieces you want from your life and find a new way forward.

Meredith

[voice over] In the last decade, researchers have discovered that humans have at least six senses. This new sense is called proprioception. It refers to how your brain understands where your body is in space. The mind, body connection to people and to your environment.

Meredith

[voice over] Some will argue that it's experience that helps a parent see that their child's stomach ache is more than the flu. Or that it's experience when a surgeon knows to look further during a routine lap appy to diagnose a larger problem. It's not an experience. It's a feeling. Instinct. It's our brains being innately connected to our bodies. The hard part is trusting what our bodies are saying. And hoping like hell we get it right.

Meredith

[voice over] Our bodies play host to trillions of bacteria and other microbes. They live on our skin, in our guts, up our noses. Microbes are found in almost every part of the body. They break down food and perform many other functions that we need to survive.

Meredith

[voice over] Microbes may sound like uninvited guests but most live harmoniously in and on our bodies. We need a diverse set of microbes working together to stay healthy. They're an essential part of our systems. It turns out, they're right where they belong.

Meredith

[voice over] Metastatic. Advanced. Progressed. All words no one wants to hear from their doctor. It means despite everything you've done, every rule you've followed, you may be near the end. It's the moment when fear sets in. You panic as you realize you may not survive. It's why people turn to experimental treatments and last-ditch efforts. If you knew you were dying what would you do? If someone gave you a lifeline, would you take it?

Meredith

[voice over] We've all felt it, a moment where all is lost. Whether it's in our jobs, family, love, we fear everything will be taken. Close our eyes, we bite our lips and the adrenaline floods through our body. But despite how hard you try, that last-ditch attempt still may not work.

Meredith

[voice over] Before the advent of surgery, many illnesses were treated with phlebotomy also known as bloodletting. Bloodletting is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness and disease. It was one of the most common medical practices performed by surgeons from ancient Greece until the late 19th century. It was one of the most common medical practices performed by surgeons from ancient Greece until the late 19th century. The practice has largely been abandoned, because we now know that in the overwhelming majority of cases, the use of bloodletting is harmful to patients. And yet, we did it as a standard medical practice for over 2,000 years. It wasn't a blip in the history of medicine. It was an era.

Meredith

[voice over] For decades, many doctors were convinced that bloodletting was harming more than it helped. But just as many were convinced that it was the only cure. Doctors, like most human beings, are risk-averse. We prefer the safety of what we know over the thrill of new innovations. Surgeons and doctors, as a general rule, like to know for sure that we are right before we make a move. And so, for us, change requires incontrovertible proof, which is not always easy to come by. It has been theorized that surgery itself is just an era that will pass. But that's a long way away. And in the meantime, there are eras within eras. We discover new science, we posit, prove new theories. And then we bang our heads against the wall, trying to convince ourselves to actually change our practices in line with what we know. Because the end of an era is easier said than done.

Meredith

[voice over] Transplant surgeons typically transport donor organs by carefully packing them on ice and racing as fast as they can to the recipient. The organ can only survive a certain amount of time until it's placed into its new body. At best, the heart and lungs only have four to six hours. But recently, scientists have developed machines that can improve these odds. Essentially, certain organs can now travel in a box that continuously perfuses them with nutrients, preserving their viability. This innovation has allowed us to increase the number of organs available for transplantation. And for over a hundred thousand people in this country who are currently waiting for an organ it's a chance at a new life.

Meredith

[voice over] New beginnings aren't always easy. When you get a new organ, you spend your life on medications designed to suppress your immune system so that your body won't reject it. But at least you have a life to spend and a body to medicate. Second chances can feel like an insult if you can't get over what you lost the first time around. Or, it can feel like a miracle like a hard-fought victory. A chance to live the life you always wanted.

Meredith

[voice over] My mother always used to say that you could tell the difference between an intern and a second-year resident by their sutures. One of the more common mistakes an intern makes is tying their sutures too tightly, which causes tension. The more tension, the longer it takes the wound to heal. It decreases blood flow, increases scar formation, and even necroses the skin. So even though they may have technically closed the wound they may have opened the door to even more problems.