永不知倦的老爸（代序）

汉阳一江水、立委

神龟虽寿，犹有竟时。螣蛇乘雾，终为土灰。老骥伏枥，志在千里。烈士暮年，壮心不已。盈缩之期，不但在天。养怡之福，可得永年。幸甚至哉，歌以咏志。

——东汉曹操的《龟虽寿》

老爸生于一九三六年十一月三日，农历九月二十日，属鼠，按照我们当地习俗“虚”一岁计，今年正是八十八岁。

老爸姓李，名名杰，字豪，号翠生。出身在家道中落的知识分子家庭，从小生活贫困，苦难与艰辛一直伴随他青少年成长过程。因为贫困，没有进入大学学习，成了他的终身遗憾。

一九五六年三月老爸从芜湖卫校医士班毕业，一直从事医务工作达六十七年之久，在经历了三年血吸虫病防治和两年卫生行政工作之后，一九六一年老爸开始从事外科临床工作，至今也已超过一甲子。其中南陵县医院供职25年，芜湖长航医院22年，中铁芜湖医院16年。老爸年近九十，仍退而不休，没有完全放下工作。他眼不花、耳不聋、手不抖，干起专业扎扎实实、做起事来认认真真、走起路来风风火火。查资料，看文献，始终关注外科最新进展。思路清晰，条理分明，至今仍上台手术。并且赶上电子化处理医疗文书时代，他也能游刃有余，毫不落伍。人老不失戎马志，老有所为，尽职尽责，为社会奉献余热，是个永不知倦的老爸。

老爸以行医为生，以救人为本。在半个多世纪救死扶伤的工作中，了解患者心理状态，关注患者病情变化，凭着他过人的才智、精力和手巧，因地制宜，胆大心细，给无数患者带去健康，从死神手中夺回众多生命，让许多笼罩愁云的家庭重拾欢笑。

老爸在基层默默工作，一个中专毕业生，没老师教，没导师带，自学成才。医技来自个人领悟，“ 老师” 就是医学书籍，天资、聪颖、勤奋，一腔热血成就了自己的医学理想。在穷乡僻壤之地，在知识分子受排斥的年代，创造了他自己辉煌。诚如老爸所说：

“ 我的外科生命，堪称最长，手术数量亦多，手术科目也广。”老爸还说，当年他在基层做的不少手术，难度很高，这些手术至今还站在外科前沿，很是不易。比如肝、肺手术，比如颈椎结核病灶清除手术，比如腹膜后十二指肠损伤修补手术等，这些手术在上个世纪六十年代，省内都很少有医院开展。而老爸在简陋的基层县医院就独自开展这类手术，并全获成功。老爸常自豪地说：外科，有时，要虎口拔牙，绝非盲目冒险！担风险，高技艺，高配治疗。胆大心细，打破常规，当然科学，求实，是前提。

老爸从事过腹外、胸外、骨科、妇产、神外、泌外、五官、眼科、放射和麻醉等各科工作，完成各科不少高难度的四级手术，这是个非常了不起的成绩。腹外的急性胰腺炎等手术，头颈外科的颈内动脉瘤切除吻合等手术，神外的脊髄瘤等手术，胸外的肺部恶性肿瘤、食管癌等手术，骨科的各种骨髓炎的病灶清除，颈、胸、腰、骶椎结核的病灶清除和各类骨折等手术。泌外的肾蒂淋巴结剥脱等手术，妇产的子宫、卵巢切除等手术，五官的鼻泪管吻合等手术，眼科的白内障、人造瞳等手术以及各段硬膜外阻滞麻醉，颈丛、臂丛阻滞麻醉，脊髓麻醉，插管全麻及静脉复合麻醉，老爸都能熟练掌握，游刃有余。老爸所掌握的医学门类之多，是常人难以企及的，在现今国内，乃至国外，也难有其二。

那个特定的时代特定的条件下，给老爸一个难得的施展空间，并提供充分展示他的才能和天赋的机会。面对源源不断，农村各类经济匮乏的农民兄弟患者。不救治就是死，治疗总比自生自灭、听天由命好许多，老爸有充分自主权。有多大精力就有多少工作，几十年来他几乎每天都有几台手术，凭着出众的专业技能和高尚的医德，凭着对医学的热衷和对患者的关爱，凭着毅力恒心、勤奋刻苦、执着坚持，老爸成为出色的大外科医生！老爸把握一瞬即逝的机遇，常常突破禁区，在一亩三分地崭露头角，屡屡取得不凡的成绩，终于登上了基层医院普通临床医生的顶峰。

几十年，除手术外，老爸回家就是一头扎到医书里，废寝忘食，很少见他休息，是个标准的工作狂。我们一直觉得，老爸就是时代造就的现代华佗，就医疗面之广、救助病人之多、服务时间之长，基本是前无古人（maybe 除了华佗），后无来者。

外科医生需要悟性，手指手腕的稳定性和灵活性相当重要，老爸仿佛是天生做外科医生的料。老爸特别好学，胆大心细，慧根极高，勇于创新，有学外科的天赋，一看就懂，一点就通，手术做得赏心悦目。中青年时期尤为特出，练就一身绝技。另外，他的团队精神极佳，他带教的下级医生，无不严谨、敬业、精益求精，培养了一批医疗骨干和专家。

一上了手术台，老爸似换了一个人，从容不迫，施展自如，飞速下刀、稳准剥离、显露宽敞、术野清晰。老爸手术做得漂亮利索明快，深得同行、病人及家属的好评。多年下来，老爸名震四方，求医者络绎不绝。甚至上一级医院外科主任的亲属需要手术，也来找老爸“这把刀”主刀才觉得放心。外科老辈原弋矶山医院外科陈主任，其夫人，长航医院护理部谢主任，八十高龄，患乳腺癌，经老爸手术根治，现在九十有三，并从此成了他们的终身“保健”医生。南陵县医院五官科主任王平，其大女儿董薇患乳腺癌，这是他家头等大事，心急无耐，托付于老爸，老爸亲自为之手术，终身治愈；几年后，该院妇产科主任席德华女儿，同样如此。长航医院外科主任沈某岳父，上海高龄教授，胃癌并幽门梗阻，多日不进饮食，全身衰竭，家属绝望地准备后事，终于是老爸为之“冒险”直接做了根治手术，五年后终老于其他疾病！然而通常，如此年迈体衰恶性患者，一般均先予短路手术，解除梗阻救命，尔后择期再手术切除病灶。实际，很少能争到“择期手术”机会，衰竭，病灶转移，噩耗，指日可待，后果堪忧！早在一九七零年，我的大舅潘耀毅，肝胆管结石并梗阻性黄疸，合肥安医拒收，无奈之下，从家乡三河寻老爸求医，在南陵县医院，老爸亲自为之手术取石、切除胆囊、再加胆管十二指肠内引流，顺利恢复，两周出院，终身治愈。一九八六年，五舅潘耀童，直肠癌，同样被省医拒收，再來芜湖，老爸在江东船厂医院，手术台上奋战七个多小时，行根治术。早在上世纪八十年代，不少病人电话报告病情，老爸即可确诊，比如同事成大本，胃穿孔，弋矶山医院青年医生误诊肾绞痛处理，给予泻药清洁肠道，次日泌尿系造影检查，全错了！如此，不仅耽误救命的宝贵时间，更加重穿孔外漏，推向病危！患者此时撕心裂肺地腹部绞痛，扒地抓了电话报告老爸，嘱急回本院，急诊手术切胃治愈。本科护士长高某丈夫陶某，也是如此。如今，更多的是手机“微信”远程看病，任何时候任何地点，众多病情，就此解决。尤其称奇的是我们家至亲的所有手术，都是老爸亲自包揽主刀的，这需要很强的自信、果敢和心理素质。立委当年认识一位农村青年医生，由于难能施展，而厌倦行医，转报英文师专，当谈起老爸的医术，却充满钦佩：“你知道么？你爸爸是世界上最了不起的医生。许多省立大医院尚未开展或普及的大手术，你爸爸也能做。”他给立委讲解一些案例，立委也不懂，但是我们心里明白，老爸一直在超越自己，向越来越复杂的手术攀登。后来，跟老爸谈话时，我们问他还有哪些疑难手术，想做而做不成。老爸说，能做的差不多都做了，但是有些手术，比如显微外科，断肢再植等，对于器械要求太高，当年县医院没有这种条件，只好遗憾了。另外，干细胞再生医学，基因编辑技术，基因工程减少或逆转老化细胞，精准医学与个性化医学，这些属于医学研究范畴，我这个基层临床医生只能望洋兴叹。

文革后，职称晋升恢复，老爸从医士、医师、主治医师、副主任医师、主任医师一路走过来，从来都没拉下，总是一路顺风。老爸，在他一生前后任职的三家百人以上的二级医院里，是唯一外科主任医师，就是全院，正高职称，难有一、两位而已！而他的中专同学，几乎没有升正高的机会，即便同时代的医学院本科毕业生，在二级医院绝大多数也无缘斩获正高职称，基层医院，要求更苛刻，论文、临床、英语一样不能少，还有指标限制，一般只有内、外科各一指标，没有过硬的条件，宁缺勿滥！可见，老爸，在同辈人中，凤毛麟角，出类拔萃！”

时代造就人，老爸没上过小学、没上过高中、没上过本科、更没上过研究生，正式教育只有初中和医士中专这两张文凭，主要还是靠无数的医学实践，摸滚爬打拼出来，凭实力顺利晋升普外主任医师，终成一代全科名医。

医生受人尊敬，但却是清贫的。生活苦点，倒也无所谓，老爸的难题是，到哪里去攒买书的钱呢？那些大厚本的专业书籍《外科学》、《骨科学》等，定价不菲，却是工作必不可少的。谁能想到，许多医书是爸爸瞒着家人卖血换来的。一次抽 300cc 鲜血，当时的价格30元，这可是平时半年也难攒下的钱啊。老爸总是轻松说：人有造血机制，失点血无碍。医生常有紧急情况下自己输血救病人的例子，我在行医过程中也曾有过多次。但靠卖血去购专业用书，古今中外应不多见。一个时代，一种活法，一个享有盛誉、对医术精益求精的医生非卖血不能拥有医书，这样的事，从古到今，大概也只有那个特定时代才有。 2007年6月3日，老爸经历一生最大一劫。老爸突然吐血，那莫名的高烧竟达摄氏40度，自诩“不老不衰”的老爸，一下被击垮了，出血量2000毫升以上，当即病情十分凶险。急症送医，诊断为“胃腺癌，低分化”，21日在武汉行大手术，作了全胃加胆囊切除（原有胆结石），终于闯过这一生死关。他操劳一辈子，一直退而不休，仗的就是身体好和心态好。没想到平时不生病，一病吓死人，这次是他一生中遇到的最大挑战，也是他健康的拐点。老爸是我们全家的主心骨，平素身体清瘦健康，无不良嗜好，更没住过一次医院，一直比同龄人显得年轻。很多大风大浪闯过来，人生很精彩。总算坏事变好事，老爸这次急病倒下，对病情的早期诊断和及时治疗有利。得以宽心的是，老爸得到了最好的医疗条件，家人也多在身边照顾。老爸术后恢复很快，但人比手术前明显苍老，经过大半年休养，才慢慢恢复底气。现在说话很有力气，精神仍很旺盛，还常常上台做手术，我们全家人这才终于松了口气。老爸现在半退休在家，身体健康，一点不像8 8 岁的老人。虽依旧清贫，但生活有条不紊，仍保持对新事物的好学之心。虽不再开车，但对于科技最新动态好奇心不减，今年二月还在问立委 open AI 和 chatGPT 的词源和背景。手机电脑玩得比许多年轻人还熟，淘宝网购，滴滴叫车，美团订餐。同时经常查阅英文专业资料，吸收新知识，不断进取。长年的博闻强识，他的英语专业词汇量比立委这英语“科班”出身高出许多，普通词汇也有一比，真正是活到老、学到老的楷模。老爸大病之前，退而未休，青春不减，宝刀不老，手术、开车、上网、写回忆，还有下棋对弈，乐此不疲。大病开刀后这十多年来，虽体质下降，老爸终究丢不开他从事一辈子的至爱——临床医学，他丢不下他的本行，仍然没有最终选择下课，颐享天年，还是在临床一线工作，发挥余热。现在老爸基本上放弃普外以外的其他相关专业工作，如骨科、妇产科、泌尿外科等。老爸坚守这个普外阵地，希望自己在有生之年，永不落伍，永葆“青春”，而他的多学科的临床经验，一直能为社会奉献，能为病人解忧。

医学，这是老爸终身无法割舍的情结。

老爸性情温和，与人为善，为人正直，待人热情。问病十分认真，不烦不躁，回答耐心细致，亲切和气。无论病人贫富贵贱，一视同仁，倾尽全力给予医治，真正体现医者仁心和人道主义精神。

老爸思想开明，观念前卫，对子女平等交流，从无训斥，更无打骂，也不给委屈！总是疏而不堵，循循善诱，身教言教并举。子女各自发展，是他最大的安慰，孙儿辈的成长花絮，更给他带来许多欢乐和满足。

本书是老爸文革后公开发表的部分医学论文，虽挂一漏万，还是留下了许多珍贵的从医经验和理论总结，是为不朽的丰碑！老爸这些论文诠释了一位基层医院的医生如何百炼成钢，不断自我超越的过程，表达一位医者的底线、良知、责任、担当和使命，彰显白衣战士救死扶伤的风采和“悬壶济世”的深刻内涵。

最近在整理集结部分医学论文时，老爸回顾60 多年所走过的路程，不胜感慨和自豪。虽然他的论文都是他临床上经验总结，科研成分含量不大，但实用性极强。论文文风严谨，格式规范，是老爸医疗实践的结晶和理论升华，具备一定的传承价值。老爸一生展示出的追求卓越、精诚为医的风范，勤学不辍、孜孜不倦的精神，谦和为人、正直仁善的情怀，更是我们后辈一笔不可多得的宝贵财富。

由于时间跨度太久，论文寻找难度极大，遗失不少，我们尽可能收集老爸过去的医学论文，汇编成册，作为生日礼物，献给八十八岁生日、从医六十七年的老爸。祝老爸生日快乐，身体健康，安享晚年！

老爸与作者汉阳一江水和立委

立委的中文视频

The Tireless Father (Preface)

Hanyang Yijiangshui, Li Wei

"Though turtles live long, they meet their end. Though dragons ride the mist, they eventually turn to dust. Aged but still full of fire, ambitious till the very end. The natural order isn't the only clock; contentment brings longevity. How fortunate indeed, to express these sentiments through song."
— "Though Turtles Live Long" by Cao Cao of the Eastern Han Dynasty

My father was born on November 3rd, 1936, or September 20th according to the lunar calendar. He's a Rat in the Chinese Zodiac. Following our local tradition, which counts one extra year, he is currently 88 years old.

Father's name is Li, Mingjie, his courtesy name Hao, and his art name is Cuisheng. Born into a struggling intellectual family, his youth was filled with hardship and adversity. Lack of finances kept him from attending university, a lifelong regret.

In March 1956, my dad graduated from the Wuhu Health School and has been involved in medical work for 67 years. After a stint in schistosomiasis prevention and two years in public health administration, he shifted his focus to surgical clinical work in 1961. He has been practicing for over six decades now. He served in Nanling County Hospital for 25 years, Wuhu Changhang Hospital for 22 years, and China Railway Wuhu Hospital for 16 years. Approaching his nineties, he still hasn't fully retired. His vision remains clear, his hearing sharp, and his hands steady. He conducts research, reads literature, remains engrossed in his profession, and stays updated with the latest surgical developments. His thoughts are coherent, and he still performs surgeries. Moreover, as the medical industry transitioned to digital documentation, he adapted seamlessly, never falling behind. His age hasn't dampened his spirit; he continues to contribute to society with undiminished vigor. Truly, he is a tireless father.

My father has dedicated his life to medicine and saving lives. Over the course of more than half a century, he has understood the emotional states of patients, and monitored their health conditions, and with his exceptional intellect, energy, and skilled hands, he has tailored treatments to individual needs. He has brought health to countless patients, saved numerous lives from the brink of death, and restored joy to many families clouded with sorrow.

My father worked diligently at the grassroots level. Despite only having a diploma from a technical health school, he had no formal professor or mentor to guide him. He was self-taught. His medical skills came from personal insights and countless hours spent studying medical books. His natural talent, intelligence, diligence, and unwavering passion paved the way for his medical aspirations. Even in remote and impoverished regions, and in an era when intellectuals were often marginalized, he carved out his own success. As my father often says, 'My surgical career has been one of the longest, with numerous surgeries across a wide spectrum of specialties.' He also notes that many of the surgeries he performed at the grassroots level were highly challenging. Some of these procedures are still considered cutting-edge in the world of surgery. For instance, liver and lung surgeries, removal of cervical spine tuberculosis lesions, and repairs of injuries to the duodenum behind the peritoneum – such surgeries were rarely conducted even in the provincial hospitals during the 1960s. Yet, my father took the initiative to perform these complex operations in a modest county hospital and achieved success. He often proudly asserts: 'In surgery, sometimes, you have to pull a tooth from a tiger's mouth. It's not about blind risk-taking! It's about taking calculated risks, having advanced skills, and providing high-level treatment. Being brave yet cautious, breaking the norm, and always prioritizing scientific and pragmatic approaches are essential.

My father has practiced across a broad spectrum of medical specialties, from abdominal surgery, thoracic surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, neurosurgery, urology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, radiology to anesthesiology. He has successfully performed many high-difficulty level-4 surgeries in each specialty, which is truly an astounding achievement. These surgeries range from operations for acute pancreatitis in abdominal surgery, carotid artery aneurysm resections in head and neck surgery, spinal tumors in neurosurgery, lung malignancies and esophageal cancer in thoracic surgery, clearing lesions of various osteomyelitis and tuberculosis of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral vertebrae, and other fractures in orthopedics. Additionally, he has conducted lymph node stripping in urology, hysterectomy and ovariectomy in gynecology, nasolacrimal duct anastomosis in otolaryngology, cataract surgeries, and artificial pupil operations in ophthalmology. He's also proficient in different forms of anesthesia, including epidural blocks, brachial plexus blocks, spinal anesthesia, intubation general anesthesia, and intravenous composite anesthesia. The breadth of medical categories my father has mastered is unparalleled and unmatched, both domestically and internationally.

The unique circumstances of that era provided my father with a rare opportunity to showcase his talents and capabilities. Facing a continuous influx of impoverished rural patients, the stakes were high. To not treat was to let die. Treating them was always better than leaving them to their fates. He had significant autonomy. With an endless drive to work hard, he performed surgeries almost daily for decades. With exceptional professional skills, noble medical ethics, passion for medicine, dedication to his patients, persistence, diligence, and unwavering perseverance, he emerged as an outstanding major surgery doctor. My father seized fleeting opportunities, often breaking barriers and shining in his field. His achievements made him stand out, eventually reaching the pinnacle of clinical practice in grassroots hospitals.

For decades, when not performing surgeries, he would immerse himself in medical books, often sacrificing sleep and meals. Rarely did we see him rest; he was a true workaholic. We've always felt that my father is the modern-day Hua Tuo, crafted by his era. Considering the breadth of his medical practice, the number of patients he's aided, and the length of his service, he stands almost unparalleled in history—perhaps with the exception of Hua Tuo—and likely unmatched in the future.

Surgical practitioners need intuition. The stability and flexibility of one's fingers and wrists are incredibly crucial. My father seemed to be naturally made for surgery. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, a bold yet meticulous approach, an innate intelligence, and an innovative spirit. His expertise in surgery enabled him to comprehend concepts instantly and perform operations with exceptional precision. Especially during his younger years, he honed exceptional skills. Additionally, his team spirit was exemplary. Every subordinate doctor trained under him developed rigor, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, shaping a generation of medical leaders and experts.

As soon as he stepped onto the operating table, it was as if my father became a different person—calm, confident, and masterfully executing each surgical procedure. His surgical precision and speed earned him accolades from peers, patients, and their families. Over the years, his reputation spread far and wide, attracting a steady stream of patients seeking his expertise. Even the relatives of the chief surgeons from top-tier hospitals would seek my father for surgeries, trusting only in his magic hands. The renowned Director of the Surgery Department from the original Yijishan Hospital, Dr. Chen, entrusted my father with the surgery of his wife, Madam Xie, who was the head of the Nursing Department in Changhang Hospital. Despite her being in her eighties and diagnosed with breast cancer, my father's successful surgery ensured her well-being well into her nineties. She considered my father her lifetime "personal physician". Similarly, Wang Ping, the Head of the ENT department at Nanling County Hospital, trusted my father to operate on his daughter, Dong Wei, who had breast cancer. Years later, the Chief of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the same hospital entrusted the care of her daughter in the same manner to my father.

The director of the surgery department at Changhang Hospital, Mr. Shen, had an elderly father-in-law in Shanghai, a distinguished professor, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer and pyloric obstruction. After being unable to eat or drink for several days and his body deteriorating, his family had almost given up hope. Yet, my father undertook the "risky" direct radical surgery, having saved his life. The patient lived for another five years before succumbing to other illnesses. Conventionally, patients of this age and condition would first undergo a bypass surgery to relieve the obstruction, and only later would they have the surgery to remove the lesion. In reality, few would get the chance for this second operation.

Back in 1970, my elder uncle, Pan Yaoyi, had hepatic and biliary stones along with obstructive jaundice. Refused by a renowned hospital in Hefei, he turned to my father in desperation. At the Nanling County Hospital, my father personally performed the surgery to remove the stones, excise the gallbladder, and establish an internal biliary-duodenal drainage, ensuring his full recovery. In 1986, another uncle of ours, Pan Yaotong, was diagnosed with rectal cancer and similarly turned away by the provincial hospital. Once again, my father stepped in, performing the radical surgery that lasted over seven hours.

Back in the 1980s, numerous patients would report their symptoms over the phone, and my father could make a diagnosis then and there. For instance, his colleague Cheng Daben had a perforated stomach. The young doctors at Yijishan Hospital misdiagnosed it as renal colic and treated it by administering laxatives to clean the intestines. The urinary system imaging examination the next day proved them all wrong! This not only delayed the crucial time for life-saving treatment but also exacerbated the perforation and leakage, pushing the patient into critical condition! The patient, in excruciating abdominal pain, desperately called my father and urged a return to our hospital, where an emergency surgery to cut into the stomach cured him. The husband of the head nurse Gao at the undergraduate department, Tao, experienced a similar ordeal. Nowadays, it's more common for patients to seek medical advice remotely through mobile "WeChat" at any time and place, resolving many medical issues this way. What's particularly remarkable is that all the surgeries for our immediate family members were personally performed by my father. This demanded immense confidence, determination, and mental fortitude.

We once knew a young rural doctor who, feeling constrained in his medical career, chose to pursue an English teaching degree instead. When discussing my father's medical skills, he expressed deep admiration: "Do you know? Your father is one of the most incredible doctors in the world. He can perform complex surgeries that many top-tier hospitals have yet to introduce or popularize." He shared several cases with us, and even though we might not have understood all the medical intricacies, one thing was clear: my father consistently pushed boundaries, always striving for surgical excellence.

Later, when we asked my father about any complicated surgeries he wished to perform but couldn't, he mentioned microsurgery, limb reattachment, and other surgeries requiring advanced equipment that were beyond the reach of the county hospital at the time. He also expressed admiration for the fields of stem cell regenerative medicine, gene-editing techniques, genetic engineering to reverse aging cells, and precision medicine, recognizing them as the frontiers of medical research, while humbly admitting that as a grassroots clinician, he could only admire them from afar.

After the Cultural Revolution, with the resumption of professional promotions, my father climbed the ranks seamlessly, from Medical Practitioner, Physician, Attending Physician, Associate Chief Physician to Chief Physician. His progress was smooth, never missing a step. In all three secondary hospitals, each with over a hundred staff where he served throughout his life, he was the sole Chief Surgeon. In fact, in the entirety of these institutions, there were only one or two with such a distinguished title. Compared to his peers who graduated from technical health schools like him, almost none had the chance to rise to such a senior position. Even graduates from medical colleges in his generation, the majority in secondary hospitals couldn't attain such a high-ranking title. The criteria for grassroots hospitals were even more stringent. One needed to excel in clinical practice, publish academic papers, and be proficient in English. Typically, only one chief position each was reserved for internal medicine and surgery specialties. They preferred having a vacancy rather than compromising on quality. This emphasizes how my father was truly a rare gem among his contemporaries, standing head and shoulders above the rest.

The era shapes individuals. My father never attended elementary school, high school, undergraduate, or postgraduate courses. His formal education consisted of only middle school and a medical diploma from a technical health school. Yet, he relied primarily on countless hours of medical practice, learning through hands-on experiences. With sheer skill and determination, he ascended the ranks to become a Chief Surgeon in general surgery, ultimately earning a reputation as a renowned all-around physician.

While doctors are respected, many lead modest lives. A bit of hardship in life didn't bother my father, but the challenge he faced was how to save up money to buy medical books. Those thick professional volumes like "Surgery" and "Orthopedics" were expensive, yet indispensable for his work. Who could have imagined that many of these medical books were acquired by my father secretly selling his own blood? Each time he would donate 300cc of fresh blood and receive 30 yuan – an amount that would typically take him half a year to save. My father would brush it off, saying: "humans have a hematopoietic system, so losing a little blood doesn't matter. There are often stories of doctors donating their own blood in emergencies to save patients, and I've experienced this myself several times during my medical career". But acquiring professional books by selling one's blood, such instances are probably rare across all of history and around the world and perhaps only characteristic of that particular era in China. Perhaps only in that specific era could a reputed doctor resort to such means to own medical books.

On June 3, 2007, my father faced the greatest ordeal of his life. Suddenly, he began vomiting blood and developed an inexplicable fever reaching 40°C. The once indomitable spirit, who often claimed to be "forever young and vital", was suddenly brought to his knees. He lost over 2000ml of blood, putting him in grave danger. He was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with 'low-differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma.' On June 21, he underwent major surgery in Wuhan, having his entire stomach and gallbladder (due to pre-existing gallstones) removed. He narrowly escaped the clutches of death. Having worked tirelessly throughout his life, he always took pride in his robust health and positive attitude. Who would've thought? A man so rarely ill could be brought down so severely. This incident was the most significant challenge he had ever faced and marked a turning point in his health journey.

My father has always been the backbone of our family, typically appearing youthful and vigorous, especially for his age, without a hint of any vices and never having stayed in a hospital before. Despite the hardships, life was always vibrant for him. Thankfully, his sudden illness led to an early diagnosis and timely treatment. Being under the best medical care and surrounded by family during his recovery gave everyone peace of mind. After the surgery, he aged noticeably, and it took him over six months to regain his strength. Now, he speaks with such vigor and frequently performs surgeries, which is a huge relief for our entire family.

Now semi-retired, my father, at the age of 88, is astonishingly spry for his age. Despite his modest living, he keeps an orderly life and continues to be eager to learn new things. Although he no longer drives, his curiosity about the latest tech developments remains. Just this February, he was asking me about the etymology and background of OpenAI and ChatGPT. He's more tech-savvy with smartphones and computers than many youngsters I know, ordering food from Meituan, hailing cars from DiDi, and shopping on Taobao. He also frequently consults English professional materials, absorbing new knowledge, proving the adage true: you're never too old to learn. He even outpaces English-major graduate Wei in English technical vocabulary, truly an exemplary lifelong learner.

Before his major illness, he was a whirlwind of energy, performing surgeries, driving, browsing the internet, writing memoirs, and enjoying chess games. In the decade since his surgery, even with a decline in his physical condition, he hasn't given up his lifelong passion for clinical medicine. He may have set aside other specialties, such as orthopedics, gynecology, and urology, but he remains steadfast in his dedication to general surgery, continuously contributing to the field and aiding patients. Medicine is an eternal bond he could never sever.

Gentle in nature and kind to all, my father has always been upright and warm-hearted. His patience and attentiveness when diagnosing patients, regardless of their socio-economic status, genuinely exemplify the benevolent spirit and humanistic essence of a doctor.

With progressive thoughts and a modern mindset, he always treated his children as equals, never reprimanding them, let alone resorting to physical punishment. He has always gently guided us, both through his words and his actions. Our individual successes are his greatest solace, and the growth and antics of his grandchildren bring him immense joy and satisfaction.

This book is a compilation of some of the medical papers my father published after the Cultural Revolution. Although it's not exhaustive, it preserves many invaluable experiences and theoretical summations from his medical career, standing as an enduring testament to his dedication. These papers encapsulate how a doctor from a grassroots hospital refined himself through challenges, continuously pushing his boundaries. They embody a physician's fundamental principles, conscience, responsibility, commitment, and mission, spotlighting the gallantry of medical professionals in their efforts to save lives and epitomizing the profound essence of "healing the world."

Recently, as we were compiling some of these medical papers, my father reflected on his journey spanning over 60 years, filled with both pride and nostalgia. While his papers primarily encapsulate his clinical experiences and might not be heavily research-oriented, their practical utility is undeniable. They are meticulously crafted, adhering to strict academic standards, and represent the crystallization and theoretical evolution of his medical practice, holding a certain legacy value. The excellence he has demonstrated throughout his life, his unwavering dedication to medicine, his relentless pursuit of knowledge, and his humble, upright, and benevolent character serve as a priceless heritage for our generation.

Given the vast timeline, locating all his papers was challenging, and unfortunately, many have been lost over the years. We've done our best to gather as many of his past medical writings as possible, compiling them into this volume as a birthday gift for our 88-year-old father, who has been practicing medicine for 67 years non-stop. We wish him a happy birthday, good health, and a peaceful twilight year!