When breath becomes air!!!

I haven't read many memoirs before. I found this one by Paul Kalanithi profoundly poignant of courage, dedication, love and loss. Paul was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 36 when he was completing the last year of his Neurosurgery residency and after 22 months, he died in March 2015 while his daughter Cady was just 8 months old. Paul had earned degrees in Literature,Biology and Medicine from Ivy league universities and aspired to be a Neurosurgeon-scientist and as a writer. A gifted doctor,a brilliant scientist,a passionate writer,a loving son, brother ,husband and father .. numerous were the role he played and I believe he played all of these roles flawlessly well. Throughout the book , I was amazed by his wisdom and the myriads of books he would have read. He replaced his love for literature and ambition to be a writer with neurosurgery to do something tangible by saving lives.After years of grueling residency and long hours at work, Paul and his wife Lucy was going through a strained time in their marriage and then he was diagnosed with cancer and he admits it helped get them back and nourish the meat of their marriage.

What motivated me is that even during those excruciatingly painful and languorous days, Paul with his will power and mettle found time to write this book. Even when they were sure they had limited together, they decided to have a baby, create joyful moments and express love. I couldn't control my tears and it smudged the pages when I read Lucy's afterward where she narrated Paul's final moments to death .How crushing and enervating would have been for her, yet she stood as his rock. Paul's parents and brothers were an unwavering source of comfort and security. Paul was a valiant warrior who with his immense mettle and dedication fought the exhaustion and debilitation of the cancer rather than succumbing himself to depression. He worked until he was no more physically able to perform the surgery.He was lucid about his treatments and had taken responsibility of his medical care. Though after diagnosis,Paul grappled on deciding their priorities, the baby,the book, their financial stability, Lucy's future, I believe with this book he left a lasting legacy for the Kalanithis and Cady would definitely proud of this. Though heart-wrenching and incredibly sad, this book is worth reading and quite life affirming. 

Rest in Peace dear Paul.. You are an inspiration !!!!