The Gift

Mr. Smith never complained. I first met him while I was a resident on a general medicine service to which he had been admitted for anemia. We hit it off from the start. He was a man of many interests but had never been able to achieve any major successes in his 55 years. He ran an electronics repair business from his home, and he gave me his card.

After 3 days of tests and transfusions, he was discharged without a diagnosis. He returned within a few weeks. Although I was no longer involved in his care, he asked to see me. He looked as cheerful as ever.

“They're not sure what it is,” he told me, “but I'm feeling great.” He had just received another transfusion and seemed quite jaunty.

A few weeks later, just before Christmas, he returned again for more transfusions. He was hospitalized with an …