Yesterday, Dr. Randy Pausch died after a long and heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. He became famous for his "Last Lecture" soon after being diagnosed and given 3-6 months to live. As a nurse, I know the grave prognosis that exists for most folks diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I once new an emergency physician that summed it up nicely: Hearing about an otherwise health someone being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer makes you just want to go and get a CT scan. Dr. Pausch was a picture of health before his diagnosis and his extreme health probably let him survive nearly 2 years after being diagnosed.
I will take away from reading Dr. Pausch's story a renewed comittment to not just interact with students and colleagues, but to (at least attempt to) inspire them. I will also seek to find inspiration in more places than I have in the past. Certainly, Dr. Pausch will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and for those of us who have been following his profound story of life that gained attention only at the news of an imminent death, we can only hope to lead a life as inspirational as his.
