i opened my healthconnect inbox this morning to find that one of my longtime favorite patients is dying of septic shock. she had a prolonged battle with lymphoma requiring splenectomy and most recently presented with epigastric pain which turned out to be bulky abdominal metastases. i went to the icu immediately after reading that note to meet her son and say goodbye to her. she thanked me and i tried to comfort her as much as i could. this is one of the moments i am truly grateful to be a doctor; to be her doctor.