Basking in the Sun

We all know someone who has struggled through cancer. Unfortunately, some people face it early in their lives. Tess Halbert just graduated from high school this spring but was diagnosed with lymphoma a few months later. She has been sharing her story on social media, and I found her positivity inspiring. But I found her candor about her struggles truly moving. So I decided to do a drawing of her on my iPad. I definitely spent more time than I should have since I started my first semester of med school, but it was worth it to me after seeing her appreciation. I wanted to share my drawing on Instagram as a reminder to myself of why I want to be a physician. I have spent 5 years so far studying cancer and trying to find novel treatments for glioblastoma multiforme (a type of brain cancer). My experience with that research showed me how debilitating cancer can be and why we need continual research to save millions of lives. I hope to continue doing research as a physician and help people get through this incredibly difficult disease. And to those currently facing this disease, be strong and as Tess says, “Make sure you take every opportunity to bask in the sun, feel the grass between your toes, and pet every dog you see because you never realize how much you take for granted until you can no longer do it.” – Zain Mehdi

About the Creator

Zain Mehdi is a second year medical student at the Carver College of Medicine.

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