by Diane Komp

About the author: Diane Komp is an oncologist and a professor of pediatrics at Yale University’s School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

Nine-year-old Mikey came to see me today. His parents wanted a second opinion about the tumor that is growing out of control a hair’s breadth from part of his brain that tells his lungs to breathe, his heart to beat. Mikey sat in a wheelchair during our visit, his eyes closed against the light, ears plugged to mute the ambient noise. This helps his headache.

“What do you want, Mikey"” his mother asked, softly.

“I want to live,” Mikey said.

Treating a Dying Child

Mikey is not afraid of death itself. He knows Jesus, and the two of them have discussed this matter thoroughly. His oncologist...