@dralexgeorge

“We will meet again”. A sentence has never been so bitter sweet to me. In many ways I questioned whether I loved these words or hated them. I remember sitting in the flat in London, after a horrendous shift in A&E during the pandemic, and listened to our Queen sharing this encouragement. “We will meet again”. At this time, and particularly on this day, I was traumatised. I saw so much death in the hospital. These few words got me through in ways I cannot explain, some of the things I saw and experienced will go with me to the grave. In many ways I chose this suffering. I had decided to stay in London rather than go back to my family in Wales. Why? I felt it was my duty. Not only because I was an A&E doctor, but because I knew I had a platform that could educate and empower people with the knowledge of what was going on. The true story from the frontline, from our perspective. And in doing so I hoped, in fact I knew, it would save lives. See, without knowing it, by staying in London, I not only was alone and away from my family, but I had made an unknowing choice to never see my brother Llŷr again. He would go on to take his own life before I got back to Wales. One week prior to be precise. That unknowing sacrifice will haunt me for the rest of my life. The last time I saw Llŷr I waved him off to the train station, after joining me on work experience in Lewisham hospital. I miss him every single day. The pain we feel as a family I would not wish on my worst enemy. His empty seat at the table will never be filled. So why did I get this tattoo? The truth was, we didn’t meet again, not in this life at least. But in spirit I know he is with me, and if nothing else his legacy pushes me forward, every single day. That sentence still keeps me going and one day I hope these words will be true. We will meet again, my boy 💙

November 26, 2022