- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Feb. 22, 2012
Asking questions that lead to a dead end
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
A colleague recently lost a child, and this tragic event reminded me of the profound sadness in the comments posted here by others who've suffered the loss of a loved one.
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The death of a child is devastating and incomprehensible. In addressing the congregation during this difficult time, a beloved pastor said, "If we continue to ask 'why' and 'what if' and to look for logical explanations, we will wind up at a dead end." Going down that road keeps you from finding a new normal and acknowledging that life goes on even though it will never be the same.
Connecting with others who are also struggling with the loss of a loved one can be a profound source of comfort, since only fellow travelers can truly understand the pain and anguish. Reach out and learn from them. No one can do this alone.
5 comments posted
March 2, 2012 2:35 a.m.
A support group is the best "cure" and a journal writing group helps, too. The problem is: where do you find them?
- Roberta
March 1, 2012 3:02 p.m.
5 years ago I suddenly lost my husband to a massive heart attack; he was only 37 years old. For well over 2 years, I had a very hard time finding a reason to get out of bed. It wasn't until I began seeing all the blessings I had been given as a direct or indirect result of my husband's death (the people I connected with and now call friends; all of the lessons my husband taught me that I can now share with others; etc.) that I was able to move on with my new life. When it was first suggested to me that I attempt to identify any blessing resulting from my husband's death, I couldn't believe that anything positive could come from such a devastating loss, but with time and patience, identifying those blessings is what helped me continue living. That doesn't mean that I am glad my husband died, or that I don't wish he was still alive. It was just what I needed to accept my life after his death. I think it is only natural, and maybe even necessary, that we ask "why" and "what if", especially immediately following the loss of a loved one. It seems to be a common step in the grieving process. I think the key is that as with any step in the grieving process, you have to keep moving forward and not get stuck at any one step. Unfortunately, the only way to ever find any happiness or peace after a major loss is by going through the grief process. There is no easy shortcut. There is no way around it, and there is no way to do it all alone.
- Erin
March 1, 2012 2:18 p.m.
I had a stillborn child 24 years ago. When it happened, I really wanted to give up; however, I knew I had to move on for the sake of my other child. With the support of my loving family and friends, I learned to cope with "what was" or my new life. To this day I still occasionally wonder "what if," but I've accepted things and am able to talk with others when they experience the same event.
- Diane
February 29, 2012 3:48 p.m.
I just wanted to mention that the same advice applies to any life changing event. My husband had a stroke 8 years ago and I heard those questions for years and occasionally still do.
- Anita
February 25, 2012 10:51 a.m.
Sometimes it helps, after things settle down after a death, to ask the questions why and what if. With me it was a tremendous help to know what exactly happened in the death of my loved one and maybe how I could use the what if to help another person.
- Carol
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