"In a heartbeat, you or someone you love may be rapidly transformed from a life of health and wellness to one of critical illness. As he writes of the role of compassion during critical care, Ronald Kotler, M.D., takes readers to the frontlines of caring for critically ill patients who are "breathless"-near death. Drawing from four decades of experience as a physician in an intensive care unit, Kotler shares compelling stories of patients who were facing the end-of-life. He describes the emotional "rollercoaster" of critical care for patients who struggle to survive and the health care professionals trying to save them. Kotler's inspiring stories will educate readers as well as salute doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who make up the American healthcare system"--