Paul Kalanithi savors moments with his daughter, Cady.
Credit: Gregg Segal
In residency, there’s a saying: The days are long, but the years are short. In neurosurgical training, the day usually began a little before 6 a.m., and lasted until the operating was done, which depended, in part, on how quick you were in the OR.
A resident’s surgical skill is judged by his technique and his speed. You can’t be sloppy and you can’t be slow. From your first wound closure onward, spend too much time being precise and the scrub tech will announce, “Looks like we’ve got a plastic surgeon on our hands!” Or say: “I get your strategy — by the time you finish sewing the top half of the wound, the bottom will have healed on its own. Half the work — smart!” A chief resident will advise a junior: “Learn to be fast now — you can learn to […]
Remote Viewing the Year 2060
Beautiful! Deeply, deeply touched my heart and my spirit. Although I have Sjogren’s Syndrome (salivary glands don’t function), tears welled up in my eyes as I read you words and heard your voice. So important to live moment-by-moment. Am at a loss to express … words are inadequate – thank you Dr. Paul Kalanithi for your life and for allowing us to share. Love is eternal. Your spirit lives! My love, prayers and blessings to your family. Thank you Stephen Schwartz for sharing this with us, with me in particular. Blessings to you and yours.