Just Survived a Car Crash; Now Recuperating

Dear patients and friends, over the past week I have been hospitalized after a car crash and could not handle work normally; I apologize. This crash was the closest I have come to death in my life, and it has affected me greatly. The photos from the crash scene are too graphic and would upset those who care about me, so I will not make them public.

For the first few days I was not out of danger. To avoid all disturbance, apart from three or four closest people and the patients who consulted me during this period, I did not tell anyone about the crash—my parents and siblings did not even know.

Because at the time I was suspected of having intracranial hemorrhage and a ruptured right kidney, excessive interference would only affect treatment and raise the risk of death, so I had to ask my family to keep it secret. Moreover, my family had to care for me, handle all the crash-related affairs, and keep up their own work; they should not be disturbed either.

Thankfully, my brain, internal organs, and facial features were all uninjured, and I suffered no fractures. I choose to announce it now because many work matters need special arrangements. Recently I can handle only a limited amount of work each day and still need a month of quiet rest. My family is also physically and emotionally exhausted; I hope everyone will be understanding.

Unless something is an urgent matter that must be resolved with me right now, please do not message or call me, and do not disturb my family; we all need more rest. I know many people care about me; these days people have been messaging to ask where I am, and I have not known how to answer. Now I am indeed out of danger and can handle a small amount of work. But my energy and strength are limited, so work is restricted to cancer-related issues for my long-term patients. My concussion and external injuries need at least a month of quiet rest. For ordinary minor ailments, please go to the hospital; casual chitchat should not take up my time and energy.

I was physically and mentally overdrawn by too large a workload, so after this crash I will no longer involve myself in many things unrelated to my research. Some friends will be removed from my contacts; I hope you will understand the steps I must take to lighten my burden. Per medical advice, I should not be using a phone or computer recently, nor reading or writing—though, because other people's lives depend on me, I must make exceptions. I will handle some work online each day, for no more than two hours, because I truly need rest. In 2023 I have endured many misfortunes and cannot bear more; please be understanding.

The crash also made me deeply aware of some of my own flaws. This is the fifth time I have been hit by a car in Beijing (twice while cycling, three times while walking; this time was by far the worst, nearly fatal), and I have been hit elsewhere too. Of the five in Beijing, although three were the other party's full fault, in two I also bore some blame.

Even in the three accidents that were entirely the other party's fault, I cannot entirely escape blame. For a long time I have been so absorbed in thinking that whether walking or cycling I easily sink into deep thought and fail to notice hazards around me. To survive in this world, a person has a duty of self-protection; no one can be with us twenty-four hours a day.

My problem is that my focus is too strong and my vigilance too weak. I can excel at study and professional work, but my life skills suffer. This habit of mine is very dangerous in an era of such heavy traffic. Going forward, I will adjust my lifestyle, keep even more to my home, be more safety-conscious when I go out, and try to travel with others. I will train myself not to think while out.

Finally, I hope everyone will take me as a warning, and wish you safe journeys.