The ginkgo tree is known to survive in challenging environments, despite depleted soil and harsh temperatures.
The ginkgoes in Hiroshima persisted through bombing; they still bloom today.
We all experience suffering; when faced with it, we can choose, like the ginkgo, to strengthen our roots, reach toward the sky and bloom.
Since my cancer diagnosis, I look to the ginkgo tree as a symbol of peace and resilience.
And as I practice medicine, the bi-lobed leaves of the ginkgo remind me of my duality as both a patient and a doctor.
The ginkgo represents the hope and perseverance that unites patients and doctors in the face of illness.
