Cutting for Stone
His dream stays with him. It was easier to deal with the memories when he knew that he served a purpose. He used to tell himself that he was coming back for a reason. It made everything an ounce more tolerable. He used to tell himself that he was part of Merlin’s plan. Well, he was – just not in the way that he thought. None of what he did was part
... See moreThomas D. Lee • Perilous Times
Robert has gone to Our House, an AIDS hospice. He seems very happy there and continues to manifest a steady change of attitude. At this very moment, I am looking at an advance directive, a document that states that Robert has chosen me to make medical decisions for him when he is unable to make them for himself. This is a humbling experience, and I
... See moreGary Smith • Radical Compassion: Finding Christ in the Heart of the Poor
Somehow the concept didn’t occur to me, even when I saw people my own age die. I had a white coat on; they had a hospital gown.
Atul Gawande • Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Our crossing is a brief one, best spent bearing witness to all that we see: honoring what we find noble, tending what we know needs our care, recognizing that we are inseparably connected to all of it, including what is not yet upon us, including what is already gone. We are here to keep watch, not to keep.