On The Other Side of Ebola: Preston Gorman

Today’s guest for On The Other Side #10 is Preston Gorman. In March of 2015 while living and working in West Africa, Preston contracted ebola. He found himself severely ill, fighting for his life. After returning to the States, his whole life flipped upside down as he was forced to navigate a new normal that he never wanted, and all the changes that came as a result. This is Preston’s story of being on the other side of ebola.

Preston’s story of surviving ebola is truly a miracle in and of itself, but his experience continues through the recovery process. In today’s episode, Preston tells us about the difficulty of his extended recovery, causing him to lose his job, his health, and even his social life. He also dives into his emotional battle with recovery, struggling with identity and feeling lonely as he processed his trauma and new life. After taking time to step away and heal, he talks about how this experience changed the way he treats his patients. He says, “I’m much more willing to just sit and listen, connect to what they’re feeling. I approach it with a lot more empathy.” As difficult as trauma is, these are often the stories that change us. It’s never easy, and yet we have an opportunity to share these hard experiences to impact one another. We’re so thankful for Preston sharing his story with us today.

*Photo Credit-Ilana Panich-Linsman/for The Washington Post

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