From the moment I became a surgeon, I knew my purpose was to save lives. One night, a homeless woman with severe internal injuries arrived. Hospital policy forbade surgery without approval, especially for uninsured patients, but she would die without immediate help.

I made the call to operate. After a long surgery, she survived.The next day, the chief of surgery, Dr. Langford, called me in and fired me for breaking protocol and costing the hospital money. My colleagues stayed silent.I lost my job but didn’t regret saving her.

Then, weeks later, Langford’s daughter was critically injured and needed emergency surgery. With no one else available, he begged me to save her. I did.After her successful surgery, Langford apologized publicly, reinstated me, promoted me, and changed hospital policy to ensure emergency care for uninsured patients.

The woman I saved got the help she needed and a new chance at life.I lost everything for doing what was right but doing the right thing gave me back everything.