Ad Infinitum

Health is considered to be one of the most valued possessions man could ever dream. Man always pursue for youthful image and tangible health in order to meet the demands from his environment. Most of the time, he wanted to reach the pinnacle where everything is perfect and order. In his quest towards perfection, he would defy advanced age, combat infirmity and would even settle in trading wealth in favor of health. Nonetheless, no matter how hard he tries to reach for that so called pinnacle; still the inevitable would stand out, the disease itself. Where man goes, disease follows and where man exists, disease coexists. Hence, man’s quest for eternal perfection seems to be ad infinitum.

Long before science was a breakthrough, diseases were paralleled to that of an evil, a curse, or worst, a tribulation from the Omniscient. Man often viewed them to be horrendous. Moreover, people who were stricken with such lethal diseases were left hopeless and abandoned. They were outcasts then. But as time progresses, science flourished and it paved a way for new discoveries and inventions. Medicines were designed to eradicate ailments; lifestyle was fashioned in a way that it could offer longevity to man’s existence. Because of these, man had experienced the real taste of life, where he can enjoy its contribution. Further, man was educated and more informed.

Despite the good effects science has provided, still the imperfections within himself made him eligible to succumb into illness especially as he advanced to old age. One such disease is cancer where it debilitates the person not only by its potency but by the devastating complications it could brought to the person’s health. True to its effect, the victim would be left hopeless and slowly deteriorates unless treated.

Later, man realized the importance of health, its impact and its influence to his life. bottom line- disease is a living testimony of man's imperfect existence.

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Note: This is originally composed as a reflection paper during my clinical exposure in college.