Same flat tyre, 10 years later

Detailed summary

Sometimes, the most unexpected moments make us reflect on how much we have changed. Ten years ago, during a week in November, I went through one of the most ...

Sometimes, the most unexpected moments make us reflect on how much we have changed. Ten years ago, during a week in November, I went through one of the most mentally demanding periods of my professional life. I remember it not because of one particular incident, but because of the number of emotionally challenging situations that unfolded within a few days. A patient I had followed for years passed away. Her son sent me a message. A young man, whose family I knew personally, had suffered a serious road traffic accident and was declared brain dead in the ICU. Another patient developed postoperative bleeding, just one week after surgery.

One of my patients, recovering well after an operation, told me he was feeling great and had even gone diving. However, his pathology results had revealed malignancy. I was preparing for a family conference to communicate the unexpected diagnosis and discuss the treatment plan. At the same time, I had a publication deadline, with the final manuscript submission due the following day. And somewhere in the middle of all this, I attended a friend’s wedding to offer my congratulations. Someone noticed that I was not smiling and looked exhausted. Perhaps I was.

But this is sometimes the unspoken reality of medical practice. You deal with loss, complications, difficult decisions, anxious families, unexpected diagnoses and professional responsibilities. Then you go home, eat, sleep and start again the next morning. Years later, people wonder why doctors experience burnout. Fast-forward to November 2026. I found myself facing a remarkably similar combination of professional and personal pressures. Yet my reaction was different. I was calmer, more composed and better able to put things into perspective. Not because I cared less, had lost my enthusiasm or become emotionally detached.

Over time, we learn to distinguish what needs immediate attention from what requires patience.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Kuwait Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.