Dr. Paul Kalanithi had a promising future as a neurosurgeon when he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He was given the diagnosis just a few months before he was to complete his twelve-year surgical training program. He was thirty-six years old, had never smoked a cigarette in his life, and had no other risk factors for lung cancer. The cancer was inoperable, and he was given six months to two years to live. Dr. Kalanithi faced the illness courageously, continued to practice medicine, and even became a father.
This isn’t a story about facing cancer and beating it. It is a story about what it feels like to have a terminal illness, how your values change, and what is important in life. It is a story about making the most of every precious day.
Dr. Kalanithi passed away in 2015, leaving this beautiful book unfinished. His wife picked up the story where he left off, telling us about his peaceful death, and the legacy he left behind.
When I closed the book I felt grateful for my own health and well-being, but the truth is that none of us knows how much time we have. Life can change in an instant and every day is a gift. We should make the most of the time we are given.
Apr 12