IMO there's a certain mental callousness or disconnect with medical professionals. They look at the metrics and indicators of a patient and concentrate on that rather than working to heal holistically; there is less concern about the quality of life or empathy for the patient's family.

I've been suffering from infection and surgical complications after a bout with pancreatic cancer. I got a nurse practitioner that could care less about managing my issues, and my surgeon has been MIA since it was discovered I had an abscess, two months after the original procedure.

The worse thing about all this is I so desperately want to be in DC on the 6th, but I know I'll be useless with this tube sticking out of my stomach and a 6 inch open wound in my side.