Climbing Mountains Beyond the Hospital

I had the pleasure of taking care of a patient who was recently diagnosed with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, whose journey left a lasting impression on me. What struck me most wasn't just the diagnosis or the treatment, but the resilience she displayed every single day. While she was in the hospital, her husband was in hospice due to stage 4 colorectal cancer. While she was talking to me about her husband, I tried to fathom how she was grappling with her own condition while simultaneously worrying about her husband. And despite everything, she kept a smile on her face and communicated with the medical team with positive demeanor. 

Through it all, her sons were a steady presence. They were always with her, providing the quiet support that often goes unseen. Their presence was a reminder that resilience is rarely a solo endeavor; it is built on the connections and support systems that help us endure the hardest moments. 

Meeting her made me reflect on the many "mountains" patients climb beyond the hospital walls. Illness often intersects with life's challenges in ways we can't always anticipate. Through her story, I realized that even in the harshest of moments, attitude and support work hand in hand with facing reality. 

Her story reminded me that resilience is never about avoiding struggle. It is about continuing the climb, step by step, with support, courage, and grace. It is a lesson that every patient, in their unique journey, quietly teaches us.