Life and near-death in the intensive care unit. A personal experience

Being seriously ill, even once, is an experience from which one learns a great deal. To feel the loss of control, the pain, and the worry about unfulfilled responsibilities at home and at work forever provides one with the motivation to deal with these issues when confronted with sick people. To understand that each illness has unique effects on a patient and that these patients almost always trust us, gives us the confidence to use our training and experience to do what we know is right for them. We should be confident that if these lessons are internalized and applied, patients and their caretakers will benefit.