Time: The Currency of Life
By Michael J. Zappa, MD, FACEP
Try to imagine a list of topics that you could introduce into almost any conversation that would be free of controversy. Top on that list would have to be the value of life, the wonder of the gift of life, the exhilaration of saving a life, or helping truly transform someone's life.
Parents, whether biologic or adoptive, have experienced firsthand the joy of giving life, physicians and the entire healthcare team have felt the exhilaration of saving someone's life or making an early diagnosis that adds years to a person's life, philanthropists have seen the "new lives" they helped create through scholarships and donations. All of these profound achievements are wonderful examples of giving life, yet each and every one of us has the opportunity to give the gift of life every day.
Having had the never easy task of telling a patient or loved one that there is nothing more that can be done medically to help them, the inevitable questions are: "How much time do I have? Isn't there something that can give me a little more time with my family or loved ones?" This clearly illustrates that Time and Life have an undeniable connection.
