Paul Kalanithi loved writing. He planned on doing that after a career in neurosurgeon. But first he had to finish up his training. He was in his last year of residency - just months to go. And then he began having some symptoms. He is diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. He does finish his residency and begins practicing. It is also obvious that he can't wait for twenty years to begin his writing. So he begins to tell the story of his wife, the baby they decided to have, and what it is like to have a terminal diagnosis.
It is a beautifully written book that will grab you from the first page and leave you in tears by the last page. Paul didn't live long enough to totally finish the book. His wife finished the story sharing with us Paul's last days in a touching epilogue that she wrote.
I loved this book. It is a great reminder about how quickly life and plans can change.
From the introduction to the book by Dr. Verghese:
" I guarantee that finishing this book and then forgetting about it is simply not an option. There is so much here that lingers, and not just about matters of life and death: One of the most poignant things about Dr. Kalanithi’s story is that he had postponed learning how to live while pursuing his career in neurosurgery. By the time he was ready to enjoy a life outside the operating room, what he needed to learn was how to die."
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