This 25 minute discussion calls attention to history – of the illness, the hospitalization and institutional behaviors within the community and to discovery of the potential for trauma and inconsistent messaging and experiences within relationship and institution over weeks in hospital that support trust or situational mistrust.  Within the context of the video “The Danger of the Single Story” the potential of social work to link “just give me a week” to Samuel’s roles and responsibility within the family,  the “meaning” of patient and the illness within the family legacy and the perceptions and unique demands on clinicians are linked to opportunities for advocacy.  Resources are provided related to trauma and “trauma focused” interventions. Articles written for medical colleagues are included as resources to broaden the understanding of how inequities have been “baked into” basic structures such as algorithms that support medical decision making. Links to articles on decision-making fatigue are included to invite thoughtfulness about the effect of ongoing, cognitive and emotionally complex decision-making on patients and families.