There are some people who just brighten your life the instant they walk into the room.

Gael, one of my classmates, is one of them. He always used to hug me when he saw me, and I, who thrive on hugs, often sought him out when I was having a bad day. He irritated me several times, that’s true–I didn’t like his condensending attitude towards women (you could forgive him some of it since he was very French) and working with him on rounds could be challenging, but he was my friend. Depending on when you asked him, he was going to be an Orthopedic Surgeon, an Ophthalmologist and most recently, a Neurologist like me. He had big amibitions and the gutsy charm to get what he wanted.

I just found out that he was in a snowboarding competition yesterday. There was an accident and he transected his spinal cord. He is paralysed from the waist down and will most likely never walk again. The neurologist-to-be is now in the neuro critical care unit, will undergo surgery tomorrow and will struggle to regain even a semblance of what his life had been like.

He’s not wanting visitors for the next few days, so the challenge of figuring out words and action of comfort can be mused over and thought out, but this has certainly put a stop to my “woe is me” little pity parties I’ve thrown myself these past couple of weeks. There’s nothing like a bit of perspective–I just wish that it hadn’t come at the expense of my friend.