A young woman from Ukraine recently came to see me in our clinic because she was having a problem with her eyes. As often happens in medicine, the conversation extended beyond the immediate reason for her visit. During our discussion, she mentioned that her husband had been serving in the war in Ukraine and that a year ago he suffered catastrophic injuries in combat, losing both of his eyes and two of his limbs.
She went on to explain that through a rare humanitarian effort, the United States had evacuated him for medical treatment and that he had been receiving care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. As she spoke, I could not help but think about the enormity of what had happened to this young man. Here was someone who had sacrificed virtually everything in service to his country and whose future had been forever altered by a single moment on the battlefield.
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I asked her how he was doing emotionally. Given the circumstances, I expected to hear about despair, depression, anger, or frustration. Instead, she told me something that I found difficult to comprehend. She said that despite everything he had endured, he was the one keeping her going. He was the source of strength in the family. He was the person reminding everyone else to remain hopeful.
Today she returned for a follow-up visit and, to my surprise, her husband accompanied her.
When I first saw him sitting in the waiting room, I was devastated. It is one thing to hear about an injury. It is another thing entirely to sit across from a young man who has lost both of his eyes and both of his arms. Looking at him, I found myself thinking about everything that had been taken from him, not simply his vision or his mobility, but the countless experiences and opportunities that most of us take for granted every day.
After I completed my examination of his wife, I asked if I could meet him.
What struck me immediately was not his physical condition. It was his demeanor. He greeted me with a warm smile and an extraordinary sense of grace. There was a humility about him that was impossible to ignore. There was no bitterness. There was no anger. There was no sense that the world somehow owed him something because of what he had suffered.
“Doctor, I have not suffered as much as others have, and I am very grateful to be here today,” the husband said.
For a moment I was speechless.
Words alone cannot fully capture the humility and gratitude of this young man. I encourage you to watch his brief statement below in his own words.
Here was a man who had lost his sight, lost his limbs, and lost the life he once knew, yet his instinct was not to focus on his own suffering but on the suffering of others. More striking still was what he said next. He spoke about how grateful he was to the United States for bringing him here, for providing medical care, and for giving him a chance to move forward with his life. He talked about America not with entitlement but with appreciation. He viewed the actions of this country as an extraordinary act of compassion.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, I have found myself thinking about this conversation.
We spend an enormous amount of time arguing about what America is and what America should be. We debate politics, public policy, culture, immigration, economics, and countless other issues. We often become so consumed by our disagreements that we lose sight of the characteristics that have defined this nation for generations.
The greatness of America has never been simply its economic power, military strength, or technological innovation. Many nations throughout history have possessed those attributes. What has distinguished America is the belief that our strength carries with it a responsibility to serve something larger than ourselves.
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What struck me most about this encounter was how easily we lose perspective. We become consumed by our daily frustrations, our political disagreements, and the endless stream of controversies that dominate our news cycle. In the process, we sometimes become blind to the suffering occurring around the world and deaf to the sacrifices being made by others.
Perhaps the most troubling part of this incident was how many people were simply too busy to even look at the video I sent of the interview of this young man and even acknowledge it. It is truly tragic how distracted we are to spend even a few seconds to recognize human pain and suffering
Meeting this soldier was a powerful reminder of that reality.
As we celebrate America at 250, perhaps the question is not whether this country is perfect. It is not and never has been. The better question is what ideals have allowed it to endure for two and a half centuries and continue to inspire people around the world.
I believe the answer is found in moments like this.
It is found in compassion. It is found in empathy.
It is found in the recognition that human dignity transcends borders, politics, religion, and nationality.
Most of all, it is found in the willingness to help those who are suffering even when there is no obligation to do so.
A young Ukrainian soldier who lost everything reminded me this week of what America looks like through the eyes of someone who has experienced both tragedy and grace.
As we mark 250 years as a nation, that may be the most important thing worth celebrating.