Why use heartbeat to decide life and death?

Hemingway once wrote that courage is not afraid of danger. However, I agree with Victorino Afelli, an Italian dramatist in the18th century: "The test of courage is often not to die, but to live." Cancer not only brings pain, but also causes fear. It is courage to live with illness and dare to face up to this reality.

Hope is the most effective medicine for treating cancer. Almost no cancer (no matter what stage it develops) is incurable. By instilling hope in the patient's heart, it can help him establish the concept of actively fighting the disease. Perhaps this statement is illogical and groundless? However, many doctors believe that in order for this therapy to be effective, it must be part of cancer treatment.

I am fortunate to have the joy brought by two beautiful and virtuous wives, to experience the joy of being a father and to be loved by eight children. In the past, my work was full of challenges and a sense of accomplishment. I always like listening to music and reading. I like ballet and drama. I used to be addicted to fitness, tennis, golf, curling, hunting and fishing. My dining table is full of wine and food. My home is warm and happy.

However, when I knew that my time was coming, my attitude towards life changed. "This is the beginning of the rest of your life." This sentence has real meaning to me. I feel more strongly about every sunny day and flowers and birds. On weekdays, we breathe freely, swallow freely, walk effortlessly and sleep till dawn. When have we ever enjoyed it?

After my illness, I began to do many things that I had put on hold before. I read a book for retirement and wrote a book called Surgery. My wife Madeleine and I spent more holidays. We often play tennis, slide stones on the ice energetically and take our son fishing. Looking back on the past few years, in many ways, it seems that I have lived my whole life from cancer. On my last holiday in the Bahamas, I was walking on the beach and the waves gently brushed my feet. At this moment, I suddenly feel that I am integrated with the whole universe, even though I am insignificant, like a grain of sand on the beach.

Although I have to limit my medical workload, I feel I have more contact with my patients. When I walked into the intensive care unit, I felt a sense of awe, because I knew I had been a patient here. I understand that it is still possible to enjoy life after experiencing the extreme pain of being diagnosed with cancer, so comforting cancer patients has become a special pleasure. A patient had a laryngectomy. I asked him if he wanted a cold beer and got him one. At this moment, I saw the spark in his eyes, and a warm current suddenly welled up in my heart.

If people realize that life is only a fleeting moment in the long river of cosmic time, then life calculated by years will not be as important as we think. Why use heartbeat to decide life and death? Life is really fragile when it depends on the unreliable function of heartbeat. And only death is the only thing that people can absolutely rely on.

I think death may be the most important part of life. I think life is extremely short compared with that long eternity. Based on my religious belief, I believe that I will return to the Holy Father in an indescribable time behind me. I believe that my life, calculated by years, is short, but rich in experience, full of joy, love and achievements; I will always live in the memory of the people I love, that is, my mother, brother, children and close friends. I believe that when I die, my relatives and friends will accompany me: I hope to get a gift from God-to leave this world peacefully with dignity.