Too Smart by Half
Time for a heavier and darker post: My friends Todd and Trisha Mills tried to teach me the meaning of the expression. Maybe I am finally learning.
posted by Brian Koffman at
11:34 PM
Thursday, June 12, 2008
About Me
- Name: Brian Koffman
- Location: Claremont, CA, United States
BkoffmanMD@gmail.com A family doc and husband of 1 and father of 4 and grandfather of 3 who loves his family and his work. I live with no TV and no microwave, but wouldn't last a minute without friends, art, music, books and the beach. Hockey, good jokes and exotic travel are pretty important too. Writing, Talmud and Zen give meaning to my life. My diet is organic vegan, often raw. I hope the blog makes the load lighter and the path both safer and more fun for those who read it or are going to similar places. I want to help. I crave your comments. If you are new to the blog, check out the portrait my son Will painted (it is the first post), and my very first text post.
Previous Posts
- How to be a Hero
- Empathetic Doctor
- Test Day
- The best laid plans
- Vegan diet
- Traits of a Warrior
- REVISED and SIMPLER Practical Issues: Staying in t...
- Letter to my Patients (sent to some 5,200 I have b...
- The BMA in May 2008
- The waiting is the hardest part
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4 Comments:
Brian,
I would like you to know always that many of us are watching your journey closely and praying for you daily. I do not wish to say you are brave because I am annoyed when others say that to me. It's not like we choose to have CLL, we just have to play the hand we were dealt the best way we know how. I know I certainly would have skipped CLL if given the option!
I admire your honesty, even the hard parts. I would find you less human if you did not have any worries and fears. You have been so eloquent as you share your thoughts and feelings that I almost feel that I know you. As I listened to you speak I wanted to reach out and hold your hand, somehow let you know that we are with you in thought and spirit.
My oncologist has recently told me to start thinking about transplant with my first treatment as it is approaching, probably soon.
He feels that the first remission is the deepest and most likely to be successful. I find the idea frightening, especially since my only symptoms thus far have been episodes of intermittent bone pain. At the age of 47 I also find the idea of repeated treatments, each less effective than the last frightening.
These are not easy choices we face and I think that working in the medical field can make it even harder because you know well what the worst case scenarios are and have probably watched others travel that road. It is very humbling, isn't it?
Please know that I am thinking of you and praying for your success as you battle "the beast".
Sarah Pierson
Powerful,...Moving...
A difficult decision for any man.
Nothing less than Brave.
Too Smart by Half? ...I think not!
Bill Breski
Hello, dear Dr Koffman,
Joanna has made me aware of your situation and now I know why you have repeatedly come into my thoughts in the last several months. You were my doctor for seventeen years--I was blessed to have the best care from a kind, extremely knowledgeable man during some very rough times. Once again you have floored me with your honesty. I will be donating blood here and will look into who I have to see to get on the donor list.
I know you to be a courageous man but it is hard to let someone else be in control. I hope you will let yourself surrender to the role of patient. Patient care by all at St Jude's is excellent and you are well-loved as well as well-respected by many and I will add my prayers to theirs.
I'm very glad you're going ahead with the transplant now and will be thinking of you every day, with you in spirit. It's been almost four years since I had to move away but I'll be coming home again and it would be an answered prayer to see you back at work. Hope you're having a good Father's Day.
thinking of you,
Linda Morse
Hi There!
Michael and I are thinking of you and wish you well. A quote for you that has always seemed to help me:
"If you must begin then go all the way, because if you begin and quit, the unfinished business you have left behind begins to haunt you all the time."
- Chogyam Trungpa
As someone who has healed so many people, you must have a lot of good karma coming your way. Here's wishing you even more... be well!!! :):):)
Wendy Kayl
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