Grandma's Rules

My grandmother, who has spent 84 years on the planet, is wise. This is an excerpt from a letter that she wrote to me after my first patient died:

Rule #1: Sometimes patients die

Rule #2: Doctors can't change rule #1

Seems obvious, but to a young doctor who is committing her life to preserving health (delaying death?) this was a profound thought. An allowance of myself to do the best I can, but not to be expected to fix everything.

Thanks, Grandma.