02/17/2026
Sometimes, the most profound reminders of why I do what I do don't happen in the clinicâthey happen at 10,000 feet.
I was skiing this weekend with my boys, Rafi and Gabi. We were in line for the lift when a stranger, Jessie, hopped on with us to fill the chair. As we ascended, we started chattingâthe usual dad talk about kids. He mentioned he has six of them.
When he asked what I did for a living, I told him Iâm an oncologist. The conversation immediately shifted. Jessie shared his story: At age 11, he was diagnosed with an astrocytoma. He underwent two surgeries, but remarkably, no radiation.
Now, here he was. 45 years old. Strong. Skiing down a mountain. A father of six.
I looked at him, totally astonished, and said, "Jessie, you are a walking miracle." And he is.
As we hopped off the lift and he turned his skis down the slope, I called out to him, "Jessie, I know now why you have six kids!"
He smiled and took off.
The goal of oncology isnât just survivalâitâs life. Itâs about grandfathers, fathers, and future generations that almost didnât exist.
Nice meeting you, Jessie. Keep skiing.
