By: Anonymous
“So, what’s for dinner?” asked my uncle, who had recently moved in with my family after he suffered a stroke that had damaged half of his brain. He had lost his ability to walk and use his left arm, forcing him to choose between assisted nursing care or living with us. “Nothing! You will starve!” said my mother jokingly, causing us all to laugh. “Well don’t count on me to invite you over for dinner at my new house when I can live on my own again!” he said, and told me about his plans for when he moved into his own house, many of which included cooking complex meals, even though his dream of living independently was likely unrealistic.
When I first heard my uncle had suffered a massive stroke in the summer of 2020 damaging over half of his right neocortex, I was scared. What if he was a completely different person and didn’t remember who I was? I nervously waited for my mom to wheel him inside the house, but when I saw him, all the anxiety vanished. At first, I was apprehensive, but we soon had meaningful conversations about what it was like to suffer from the effects of a stroke and what was going on emotionally and physically while he was recovering. Hearing that every time the tip of his finger moved, thousands of nerves reconnected in his brain made me think less of the fact that he had had a stroke and more about the potential for his recovery.
Growing up, I had always been fond of science, especially human anatomy. The thought of all the little bits and pieces that go into making our body function was mesmerizing to me and I always yearned to know more. So, as bad as it sounds, I was excited when I got to take my first trip to the hospital. Taking frequent trips to the hospital soon became my new reality since my grandfather was also dying of pulmonary disease, while my uncle was recovering. Because of my curiosity, medical staff often asked me if I wanted to learn more about what they were doing, which made me feel like the most important person in the room.
My recent first-hand experiences with the medical challenges of close family members have solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine. I know that road can be challenging but I am determined to follow my passion. At my school’s career fair, I spoke with numerous nurses and doctors about their day-to-day lives and the educational requirements necessary in order to be accepted into medical school. I also had a discussion with my family doctor about my career choice to gain his perspective. I recently volunteered at Providence Hospital, where I helped lead a summer camp for children living with disabilities. I enjoyed this opportunity because it provided valuable experience working with children; pediatrics is the current specialty I am most interested in pursuing.
So, although my uncle will never become a famous chef, his story has inspired me and helped me identify my love of helping others. Watching his bravery throughout his painful recovery and assisting him in his therapy was an honor. His ability to persevere while knowing that he would likely never be able to function the way he previously could has amazed me. It taught me that despite the long and challenging road ahead of me, I should not take life for granted and that hard work and resiliency are the keys to success. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to be a part of his recovery and am very excited to begin college and work toward my goal of becoming a medical professional. Almost two years later, my uncle is now living independently and beginning to regain his cooking skills, even if it is only with one hand.
Into the Jungle 