A heartfelt, honest and witty account of a young doctor's first year of practice, filled with unforgettable characters and surprising events. Dr. Mathur is thrown in the deep end by a rural Texas hospital. He arrives to find that the hospital is bankrupt and has almost no resources. He faces opposition from the other two doctors, suspicion from the people, and the challenges of being an immigrant in the Bible Belt. He is also a husband and father of two curious and lively little girls. In the course of that fateful first year, his frustrating, terrifying and often hilarious encounters in the hospital are interwoven with moving stories about his wife and children. In the ER, he treats emergencies like cardiac arrests, collapsed lungs, and impaled limbs, and at home, he works to create a calm and peaceful refuge. In the course of that momentous year, he gradually wins the confidence of the townspeople by his skills, sincerity, and compassion. He tries to spend time with his family, but often ends up rushing back to care for a patient. This poignant memoir takes the reader into a doctor's life at an intimate level. It shows that the harsh demands of a medical life can be tempered with laughter, sincerity, and humility, to create a life that is truly rewarding and inspiring.
