Lion in the Night
Stories
Foreword by John R. Perfect
Illustrated by Lena Rodriquez Gillett
Imprint: Resource Publications
A physician's life may be viewed as hard and demanding or blessed and fortunate, depending on one's perspective. Certainly, hard and demanding is the intense scientific and clinical training period, lasting over a decade past college. Adding to work demands is the natural and trained desire to never err in diagnosis or treatment that might add to a patient's suffering.
So how is a physician's life blessed? Blessed is the physician granted permission by patients to enter into their lives at the most private and deep level. This permission is granted in part from the patients' urgent need to understand and treat their illness and pain, but also out of trust earned from years of confidential interaction. With this trust, the physician may be witness to extraordinary challenges, dramatic events, and remarkable courage, often in remote and isolated locations.
These vivid characters who speak to you in Lion in the Night have a hard-earned truth to tell the readers. Some of these truths are spoken outright, but most are acted out in the drama of their decisions and lives. I hope the characters' voices and my witness to their struggles may add a new lens to the reader's eye into the meaning of life.
Dr. Jack Armstrong lives in Winchester, Virginia, with his wife Christine. He has three grown children—Andrew, a physician, Matthew, a writer, and Katherine, a physical therapist. Dr. Armstrong studied medicine at the University of Michigan, epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control, and tropical medicine in Pago Pago, Samoa. He is board-certified and a fellow in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. In 2014, he received the Laureate Award for lifetime service from the American College of Physicians. He is retired from Selma Medical Associates and Valley Health Services.
“Jack Armstrong is an engaging storyteller, whose narratives are shaped by a lifetime of practicing internal medicine and exploring faith. He invites the reader to enter into the complex interaction of scientific data and protocol, family dynamics, diverse personal needs and motivations, legal considerations, and ethical dilemmas in the practice of modern medicine. These stories make the case for the critical role of doctors and medical professionals who are attentive to patients and shaped by humanitarian impulses to negotiate these interactions. They are a graphic reminder that medicine really is an art as well as a science.”
—Richard W. Reifsnyder, author of Surprised by Christmas: Stories Told Through Advent and Christmas, and The Pilgrimage of Faith
“Dr. Armstrong's raw, emotional recounting of his career in the medical field gives a peek behind the curtain for readers as a doctor wrestles with questions, the everyday demands of working the medical field, and faith.”
—Amanda Maguire Thomas, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Winchester
“Jack Armstrong and I practiced medicine together for over thirty years and have been friends for longer. His collection of short stories is a poignant glimpse into a seldom-seen side of medicine and reflects what we as health care providers consider the essence of practicing medicine. . . . These stories go beyond traditional diagnosis and treatment, portraying what is really important in our lives. Well worth the read.”
—Philip O’Donnel, President, Selma Medical Associates
“The sign of a gifted raconteur is the ability to paint the broad brushstrokes of a piece of art, allowing the reader to fill in the rest of the canvas with imagination. The author does just that in these stories. With his use of rich metaphor and creative turns of phrase, he delights with his talent for storytelling. With each poignant story taken from his life in medicine, he invites the reader to witness the beauty and pathos of the human condition. I highly recommend that you take the time to enjoy and be inspired by these stories from Dr. Jack Armstrong.”
—Deborah Kaiser-Cross, author of Sacred Moments, and Prayers Through the Seasons.
“If you are a healthcare worker, please read this book! Jack's stories are a strong reminder of the symphony of experiences, attitudes, values, commitments, and cultural patterns which accompany every person seeking healing or support at your healthcare institution—a symphony that needs to be listened to, understood, and honored as you interact with the person who is entrusted to your care.”
—Peter Ford, Chaplain, Winchester Medical Center
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