“Let’s remove the ventilator.”

“Let’s remove the ventilator.” Doug looked at Danny and said, “Let’s remove the ventilator.” Danny took a breath without the ventilator, inhaling and exhaling. After repeating it four times, he realized that everything would be fine. It felt like a dream, but it was not a dream. Everything he saw, heard, and felt was real. Tears streamed down Danny’s face.

For a critical patient facing life and death, removing the ventilator is terrifying. The fear that ‘something might go wrong’ or even ‘one might die’ outweighs everything else. But ‘breathing’ belongs to a divine realm, not just human capability. It’s like the hand of a father guiding a child learning to ride a bike for the first time. Although unseen, there is someone holding us up so we can move forward alone. Do not be afraid anymore and ‘remove the ventilator.’