A PAGE FROM A DOCTOR’S DIARY

God does His bit too!

As surgeons, we are trained to give nothing but our best. In surgery, striving for perfection is a given- It is the ultimate non-negotiable aim. From the very beginning of our training, we are taught that the first time is the only time—the best time.

We are told that second chances are rare. The instinct is always to fix everything , to make things right, to find a way forward.

Yet, now and then, there are moments in the operating room when we feel horribly stuck—when every option seems to have been exhausted, and defeat stares us squarely in the eye.

In those moments, doubt creeps in, time seems to stretch, and the weight of responsibility feels heavier than ever.

In the early years of our careers, the urge is to fight for control, to act, to do something—anything—that will “fix” the situation.

But as time goes by and we gain experience, we realize that not everything needs to be forced into place. Many times, if left alone, things have a way of settling themselves.

Sometimes, not trying too hard is the best thing we can do for our patients.

Just as in life and relationships, many a time the wisest choice is to let it be, to accept, and to trust.

Better surgeons are those who have the maturity to know when to act and the wisdom to know when to wait.

Often, nature has its own plan. The body has a remarkable and an almost magical ability to heal, sometimes slowly, but almost always surely. And when science reaches its limits, faith steps in.

Doctors are not God, but we realize with time that every now and then, God does His bit too.

©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhaskerr