A friend of mine, a junior from residency but also from Malaysia, was recently diagnosed with cancer. I have not seen her for years, but I was shocked and saddened to learn of her diagnosis. It did get me thinking about our own mortality.

After all, as doctors we get so preoccupied with our patients; we spend more time collectively with patients than we do with our family. We diagnosis issues, treat them, sometimes cure them- but it's easy to forget we belong to the same group- we are after all human, susceptible to the same ills that befall them.

God knows how many doctor friends I've lost over the years. A couple to motorvehicle accidents. Maybe 4-5 to cancers (esophageal, lung, bone, breast). A gaping hole still exists where Buddy used to fill, and he's left this world for the next 8 years ago and it still feels fresh.

But we are after all just human; who knows what our future holds, and if we'd be facing the same problems we try so feverishly to cure or at least heal, our patients of.

It's a little reminder to myself- to slow down, and take some time to count my blessings. My wife, my kids, my family. The many intangible but priceless gifts with which I have been blessed.

To all those healthcare providers out there struggling with physical and mental health issues- I hope and pray you find your peace and healing.