I have chosen to contribute the memoir When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This work follows Paul, a writer and neurosurgeon, through medical school, residency, fatherhood, and a terminal lung cancer diagnosis in his twenties. At the time of Paul’s death, this work was unfinished, and it was published posthumously by his wife Lucy.
I hope that this book can bring comfort to those who are facing their own death as well as those anticipating or grieving the loss of a loved one. In fewer than 200 pages, this book offers lessons on the future of medical education, navigating marriage through residency and terminal illness, and, most importantly, how to find the courage to embrace life and love when faced with your own mortality.
