June 5 this year, renowned Australian cancer surgeon and researcher, Professor Chris O’Brien, ironically lost his life to the very disease he’d spent his working life treating in his own patients. He was first diagnosed with the aggressive brain cancer in November 2006 and had since undergone numerous surgeries and treatments both traditional and alternative.
Professor O’Brien was a surgeon at the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney and came to public recognition through a long running Australian medical reality show called, RPA. It was through this show the public came to know his passion for helping his patients fight the disease, his desire to find a cure and the good humoured, caring relationships he had with his colleagues and patients alike.
He leaves behind a legacy -a new state of the art cancer treatment centre called Lifehouse at RPA to which he’d devoted the last years of his life to. In his final public appearance in April, Professor O’Brien launched the centre as a fitting start to his legacy as his life was coming to an end. The centre was a dream he’d had long before he was diagnosed with cancer himself and will be built towards the end of this year.
An amazing humanitarian and well loved man whose legacy will live on through Lifehouse. A tribute to a true hero…
Makes you realise the fragility of life and the importance of making the most of it.
We’ve made a donation to Lifehouse at RPA. If you’d like to do the same, you can here; Donate to Lifehouse at RPA.
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Sami,
This is a powerfully moving tribute to this man. And it really reminds me of what matters in life. It’s how you treat people. How you care. How you show love, in every day life. What a true hero, not only for Australia, really for the world.
This moment, right now, I feel so much good in the world – and it’s because I’ve just watched this video and have witnessed love in action…
@Lance
Hey Lance,
Too true. It sure does remind you of what is important. The world has lost a good one but he’s left behind a great legacy so really he’ll live on in some respects.
What I also found amazing was how calm he and his wife were regarding his impending death. I’m not sure I could be so calm!
What a wonderful kind man – so many lives he must have touched in a truly positive way and such an extroadinary example he has set so that we can also strive to give more of ourselves and to be caring and respectful of others. So many people are fearful of death and so it was comforting to hear him speak of his journey towards death. I must say I believe, just as he does, and that is death is a long sleep, hopefully in a place of peace and tranquility and, hopefully, in a place where we are able to connect again with our lost loved ones. Thank you for showing me this tribute, Sami – I feel truly moved.
@Mum May
Hey Ma,
You’re welcome. Yep he’s an inspiration for sure.
I was actually surprised at his calmness about death. I suppose he’d seen a lot of it during his working life. Still, they had a great outlook about it.
you know what im sixteen and as most of you have gussed is that i have been truly touched by this mans ability to help others even though he was on his last legs, i am not a christian but i believe for people like him there is a place that will forever rest in people’s lives and harts.
Chris O’brien my true hero!
no sports star will ever be able to come close to where chris now rests never.
Hey Kurt,
Yes, he really did make a real difference to a lot of people while he was here. An inspiration (and hero) for sure. Thanks for stopping by.