During my early years in surgery, I focused on observing brilliant surgeons—Dr. João Fava, Dr. Samir Rasslan, Dr. Danilo Gagliardi, Dr. Paulo Corsi, Dr. Luiz Arnaldo Szultan, and Dr. Raul Coimbra—who taught me technique, discipline, persistence, and the importance of always putting the patient first. That foundation shaped my entire career.
But one experience changed how I saw the doctor-patient relationship.
During my residency at Santa Casa de São Paulo, I cared for a young woman—just 26 years old, like me at the time. She was newly married, excited to start a family, but life took an unexpected turn. She was diagnosed with an aggressive sarcoma.
She underwent surgery, radiotherapy, and I followed her throughout treatment. Her husband—a paramedic—kept us updated, and I saw her whenever she came to the ER. But one day, she was diagnosed with a recurrence. Her prognosis was devastating. Our team felt powerless.
There were no more treatment options, but I realized that my presence could still bring comfort. My fellow resident, Dr. Tania Souza, and I visited her. Though visibly weakened, she seemed at peace. A few days later, she passed away.
Weeks later, her husband came to thank us—not just for her medical care but for that final visit. That moment changed me forever. I realized that I wouldn’t always be able to cure my patients, but I could still be there, holding their hand until the very end.
💙 Have you ever experienced a moment where simply being there for someone was the most important thing you could do? Tell me in the comments.
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