Maybe the last time?

I have just one more day to attend at the medical school in Keele before I can drive away from ten years' study. Although I return on July 14th for my graduation ceremony, it is now that I can begin to reflect on the enormity of the last decade of my life.

It started with the death of my first wife from breast cancer. Having unexpectedly met my second wife later that year, I made the risky decision to pursue the long road to a career in medicine. I embarked on a first degree in Medical Biochemistry before being thwarted after just one semester due to kidney failure. Nine months on dialysis were rewarded with a successful kidney transplant. The birth of my daughter just after my original kidney failure shone a bright light on our lives but then the light went out when she succumbed to meningococcal septicaemia at just 15 months of age.

It was a hard decision to carry on with medicine after that but tomorrow will be the last day of my quest. Barring miracles, I will start the process of giving something back at the Wrexham Maelor hospital in early August. I have nothing but admiration for the students at my medical school all of whom have far more maturity than I ever did at their age. They are also infinitely more intelligent than I could ever hope to be. It is hard to adequately convey the extent of their dedication and focus. It has kept me on my my toes being surrounded by so many bright minds and taught me far more than I could ever teach them. They are an inspiring bunch with the world at their feet - and deservedly so.

When we begin our posts as junior doctors five weeks hence, I'm sure we will often look back on our time at medical school and the friends we made and the lessons we learned. Many of my colleagues are not yet 25 with the biggest hurdle safely negotiated. At the age of 45, I can only say that learning becomes more challenging with the passage of the years. I wish them all luck in their careers and look forward to my own. This has been a long journey which I could not hope to have achieved without the love and support of my amazing wife and family. I wish Dad could have been around to know that I had definitely made it but remain grateful for his enthusiasm and guidance.

When I was working in the coca cola factory in Wakefield in 1994, days like tomorrow seemed to belong to other people. I have stretched myself to the limits of my capacity and have savoured every moment. We really are never too old even though it sometimes might feel like it.