Meditations from the Cadaver Lab Day 1 by Chris Loebsack

An interesting blend of excitement and nervous anticipation dance in my belly as my college, and dearest friend Corinne, fly from Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ for a week long Facial Dissection Study at the Laboratory for Enlightenment. I have spent plenty of time in a lab during my studies, but have not worked with dissection in 20 years and never human. What makes this a bit more intense in my mind is that the bodies we will be working with are more recent, live tissue (meaning no embalming or processing) cadavers. I have become keenly aware that somewhere, someone has lost a family member and that the remains of that human form have been given as a great gift by the deceased to allow students like myself the opportunity to learn in a way that can simply not be recreated in a text book.


As I enter this week I begin with the deepest gratitude for the spirit whom I will never meet, but whose body I will systematically dismantle. I have sat with the gravity of it all and have shed my tears for the family and friends that will have had to say their goodbyes and are still processing the release of their loved one. I will share my journey this week with the greatest care for the sacredness of my academic adventure, intellectual discernment and spiritual journey reflecting on life, death and movement.


There are 48 students in the program and we will be working in teams of approximately 5-6 students per cadaver. I am looking over the list and pretty excited to meet the rest of the crew. In addition to all of the students from the US there are students flying in from Denmark, China, Australia, Netherlands, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the UK. I gelt a little bit star struck, thrilled and intimidated when I noticed one of the names on the list as a highly respected anatomist (I have 5 of his books….). Hoping I can get over my goofy shyness to try to get into his group. I know the way to learn the most is to surround myself with people who know so much more than me, no matter how intimidating it can feel. I do love steeping back in with a beginners mind and I am feeling open, ready, and extremely humble.


Exploring the bodies of the dead so that we may gain knowledge to help the living is made even more profound to me this week as I will also get to meet my niece Everly Vira (Born 8lbs, 14 oz a few days ago). My Sister-in-law lives about 10 minutes from the laboratory and I will have a night to go over and bask in the beauty of the newly born. The cycle of life will be fully present before me.