OB-GYN draws parallels between ICU cries and whale songs in reflective essay

Caroline Cherston, a fellow in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, uses an opinion piece to explore how human grief can sound like the songs of whales.

She recalls a childhood nightmare of being swallowed by a massive whale, a vivid image that later resurfaced when she heard a mother’s anguished cries in an intensive care unit.

In the ICU, the mother’s wails, gasps and slurred words formed a layered soundscape that reminded Cherston of the deep, resonant calls whales use to communicate across oceans.

Cherston reflects that both the human and whale expressions of loss carry a tender yet powerful quality, suggesting that the language of grief can be heard in the most unexpected places.