Marcus

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7442.758-a

BMJ 2004;328:758 (27 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7442.758-a

Filler

Marcus

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

He was born at 25 weeks' gestation and suffered all the problemsof extreme prematurity. His mother was 40 years old; he washer first, and probably only, child. Her partner was 25 yearsolder and already had a family.

On many occasions he was close to death, and treatment was consideredfutile. But he survived on ventilatory support for almost ayear. Frequent discussions were held with the parents aboutwithdrawing care.

On one occasion the mother explained: "I feel like a swimmertrying to cross the channel. I am so far from either side thatI can't imagine ever reaching dry land. I am exhausted, everymuscle in me aches, yet, a voice inside me keeps saying `swim,swim.'

"You are in a support boat next to me, and I can hear you saying,`It's OK. You can stop now and come out of the water. It's dry,. . . [Full text of this article]

Anthony Cohn, consultant paediatrician

Watford General Hospital (anthony_cohn1@hotmail.com)