In a commentary, Dr Flocy Joseph, Senior Deputy Director and Head of Commercial at SMU’s Executive Development, said her husband’s major surgery changed what she understood about strength, dependence and the kindness of strangers. She said becoming utterly dependent on surgeons, doctors and nurses, and being allowed to voice fears without judgment, was itself a form of care. She added that artificial intelligence helped her become a calmer, better-informed caregiver, while the seamless teamwork of healthcare professionals and small gestures of kindness changed their experience. Dr Joseph also said her colleagues stepped in and supported one another, teaching her that it is about building systems, processes and people strong enough to continue flourishing even when you are not there.