Evolution of a Surgeon

EVOLUTION OF A SURGEON* &quote;You're going to be very successful. And someday you are going to a faraway place, a place where people speak a different language,&quote; the eccentric old woman told me. &quote;It's called America.&quote; * I saw our once-robust neighbor slowly succumb to illness because he was too poor to seek medical help. I was just a kid, but I wanted to become a doctor to help people like him. * &quote;The only way you can go to medical school is through full-scholarship. I HAVE NO MONEY!&quote; my father's words challenged me. * Decades later and after performing thousands of successful surgeries, I am still reminded of that particular moment that fateful day when I first experienced the loss of a patient. As a paralyzing pain and fear of failure overcame my being, I felt a light touch on my shoulder. I turned and saw my senior attending physician, Dr. Hadder. Understanding and kindness shone from his eyes. &quote;Don't beat yourself up, Robbie,&quote; he said. &quote;We do our best. But we are not God. We can't save everybody.&quote; * When I set out to write this book, I wanted it to be an inspiration to the reader, to share my thoughts on what is essential in life. My journey to become the surgeon that I have always wanted to be is nothing compared to my conversion and renewal of faith: it is as insignificant as a grain of sand in the vastness of the ocean.