2026年的初夏，我獲邀來到泰國頂尖的學府Mahidol大學的口腔顎面外科做了唇腭裂的專題報告，報告中也回顧了自己過往的足跡，我從最嚴格的臺北出發走過讓我最孤單的巴基斯坦，來到讓我振作的柬埔寨，也到過充滿溫暖的印度。
腦海中回憶起當我決定要學習這個困難的技術時，我就發現原來有一個治療是在外科醫生的生命中夾雜著挫折跟喜悅，如此的複雜情緒跟著患者一起，必須終生一起經歷，許多人總是告訴我這個東西對你沒有好處，為何花時間去做，我總是想起我學習過的兩位老師，也許都沒有大富大貴，但是我卻明白了好人一生平安的道理，就像五月天的知足這首歌一樣：
怎麼去擁有一道彩虹?
怎麼去擁抱 一夏天的風?
天上的星星笑地上的人
總是不能懂 不能覺得足夠
如果我愛上你的笑容
要怎麼收藏? 要怎麼擁有?
In the early summer of 2026, I was invited to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Mahidol University, Thailand’s premier academic institution, to deliver a keynote lecture on cleft lip and palate. During the presentation, I looked back on my own journey: starting from the rigorous training in Taipei, traveling through the profound isolation I felt in Pakistan, finding my spirit again in Cambodia, and experiencing the heartfelt warmth of India.
I recall the moment I decided to master this challenging craft. I realized that this specific treatment weaves a tapestry of frustration and joy within a surgeon’s life—a complex set of emotions shared with the patient, a bond that lasts a lifetime. Many have questioned me, asking why I would dedicate so much time to something that offers little ”practical benefit.“ Yet, I always think of my two mentors. They may not have amassed great wealth, but through them, I came to understand the truth that peace and fulfillment follow a life of kindness. It reminds me of the lyrics from Mayday’s song, Contentment:
How does one possess a rainbow?
How does one embrace the entire summer breeze?
The stars in the sky mock those on earth,
Who can never understand, who can never feel ”enough.“
If I have fallen in love with your smile,
How do I keep it? How do I make it mine?