I had emergency surgery two and a half years ago for a ruptured abdominal abscess caused by a stage 3 colon tumour that had been missed by colonoscopy screening. Although it was very serious, it wasn't as serious as what the writer went through (while no one discussed whether or not I would recover from the surgery at the time, I'm on palliative chemo, so I am staring impending death in the face). Still, I recognize some of the things mentioned. An oncology nurse told me that she likes her job because cancer patients are some of the easiest patients to manage: they appreciate everything done for them and tend to forgive mistakes and just let things that would bother other patients roll off their backs. I think that serious illness makes many people realize how precious life is and that it is too short to be spent feeling angry about anything, or trying to change anyone.