Surviving, Thriving and Never Giving Up: What Nearly Losing My Life Taught Me About Resilience in medicine, Education and Purpose

How a life-threatening illness transformed my perspective on resilience in medicine, orthopaedic education and the power of never giving up

Keywords: resilience in medicine, overcoming adversity, orthopaedic education, FRCS preparation, medical training, doctor resilience, surgical training, overcoming burnout, orthopaedic surgeon journey, medical education.

Dr Rishi teaching students

There are moments in life that divide your story into two chapters: before and after.

For me, that moment came in 2020.

As doctors, we spend our lives caring for others. We are trained to remain calm in crisis, to solve problems and to keep moving forward. We become accustomed to being the person standing at the end of the bed, not the one lying in it.

I never imagined that I would become the patient.

And I certainly never imagined that the experience would completely change my perspective on life, education and what it truly means to be resilient.

My Journey Was Never Conventional

Looking back, my path into orthopaedics was anything but straightforward.

Before medicine and surgery fully took over my life, I studied music and spent time working with the European Space Agency. I have always been fascinated by learning, communication and the idea that there are many different ways to solve a problem.

Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with incredible colleagues, teach thousands of trainees and play a role in transforming orthopaedic education through Let's Talk Dr.

But if there is one thing life has taught me, it is that no amount of planning can prepare you for the unexpected.

The Day Everything Changed

Celebrating my 40th Birthday in hospital

The day my life fell apart- the feeling of desolation.

In 2020, while teaching online, I suddenly became critically unwell.

Within days, my life had changed completely.

I was diagnosed with severe necrotising gallstone pancreatitis and was admitted to hospital. What followed were months that I could never have imagined.

I spent prolonged periods in hospital and intensive care and underwent eleven major operations.

The goals that had once filled my diary disappeared overnight.

Suddenly, success looked very different.

Success meant surviving.

Success meant standing up.

Success meant walking again.

Success meant eating again.

Success meant getting home to my family.

There were moments of fear, uncertainty and frustration. Moments when I genuinely did not know what the future would hold.

But there was one thing I refused to give up on.

Hope.

Resilience in medicine Is Not About Being Unbreakable

People often talk about resilience as though it means being strong all the time.

I don't believe that.

Resilience is not about never struggling.

It is not about pretending everything is fine.

Resilience is about continuing to move forward despite fear, uncertainty and setbacks.

It is about allowing yourself to have difficult days and then finding the courage to keep going.

I learned that you do not discover your resilience during the easy moments.

You discover it during the hardest moments of your life.

Adversity Changed My Perspective on Education

My experience as a patient fundamentally changed the way I think about education.

For years, I had taught trainees how to pass examinations and improve their surgical knowledge.

But my illness reminded me that education is about so much more than passing exams.

Education creates hope.

Education creates opportunity.

Education gives people confidence when they feel they have lost it.

And perhaps most importantly, education reminds us that tomorrow can still be better than today.

That philosophy now sits at the heart of everything we do at Let's Talk Dr.

I have seen trainees come to courses feeling exhausted, burnt out and convinced that they are not good enough.

I have also seen those same trainees go on to pass examinations, become consultants and achieve things they once thought impossible.

Often, the difference is not intelligence.

It is belief.

And it is resilience.

To Every Trainee Facing a Setback

Medicine and surgery are hard.

Examinations are hard.

Training is hard.

Life is hard.

At some point, almost all of us will experience failure, disappointment or adversity.

You may fail an examination.

You may miss out on a job.

You may struggle with confidence.

You may feel that everyone else is moving ahead while you are standing still.

I have learned that these moments do not define you.

They shape you.

Some of the strongest, kindest and most successful people I know are people who have faced enormous challenges and simply refused to quit.

The Lessons I Carry With Me

If my experience taught me anything, it is this:

Never underestimate the importance of perspective.

Never assume your journey has to be perfect.

Never be afraid to ask for help.

Never stop learning.

And above all, never give up on yourself.

The person you become through adversity may be stronger, wiser and more compassionate than the person you were before.

Surviving Was Not the End of My Story

It was the beginning of a new chapter.

A chapter with a deeper appreciation of health, family, friendship and purpose.

A chapter that reinforced my passion for teaching and mentoring others.

A chapter that reminded me that our greatest challenges often become our greatest opportunities for growth.

If you are currently facing difficulties in your career, your training or your personal life, I want you to remember one thing:

Your story is still being written.

Keep learning.

Keep showing up.

Keep believing in yourself.

And never underestimate what is possible when you refuse to give up.

Because sometimes surviving is the greatest achievement of all.

And thriving afterwards is a choice.

Doing what I love the most- interacting and teaching trainees.