Rejected

You know it's a bad day when....

Mr. X, our guy from yesterday, is told he needs to get emergency surgery. Washington takes him via ambulance, then, the surgeon there says, "Nope. It's too complicated. We can't do anything."

Said surgeon gets on the phone to World Renown, the major medical center (ranked way up there in all those polls/surveys/popularity contests) which performs ground-breaking medical procedures.

Patient goes to World Renown to Uber Surgeon. We get a call at the desk from Dr. F. Mr.X. has been declined for surgery. Uber Surgeon says he is not a candidate. Report is called to the floor and Mr. X. rolls back in with a red baseball cap on looking tired and squirmy on the stretcher.

"Nice cap," I tell him, and give him a pat on the arm, as the drivers brought him back to the unit and I passed him in the hall.

I wish there was more I could do. What do you say to a man who got his terminal diagnosis today?

Very, very sad...