"Hi!!!" Her familiar chipper soprano voice greeted me, but her face couldn't hide the terrible truth over the last 2 months. Beyond N's trademark brilliant smile, the exhaustion in her eyes spoke tales of living in survival mode. But the conviction – the same look that almost drew me into a career in hematology/oncology – was there, loud and clear. Setting the food down on the kitchen island, I quickly turned around and wrapped her into a hug as tightly as her port would allow. Holding back tears, the journey here flashed in my mind.
