Med student stunned to learn her attending surgeon's 'once-in-a-lifetime' connection to her late father

Having mutual connections with people you have just met in your life is heartwarming in its own way. A woman named Erica Wenger (@erica_wenger) shared how her twin sister stumbled upon a random person who shared a special connection with their late father. The woman revealed that her sister and the stranger were both medical professionals and when her sister brought up the topic of her late dad, something wholesome clicked. Wenger noted that it was her sister’s first day at a new hospital under gynecological oncology. As a medical student, she was carrying on her assignments.

“She was in the operating room assisting an attending and resident on a surgery,” the post read. While the woman didn’t think much of it, she soon learned it was going to be a special day. The student interacted with the attending surgeon and asked him about the medical school he went to. He noted, “The University of Arizona in the class of ‘88.” “No way! I think that’s the year my dad graduated med school,” the sister responded. The surgeon asked for her dad’s name and when she revealed the same, he was baffled. “The attending dropped his instruments and immediately froze. My sister said it looked like he had just seen a ghost," she said. 

The student was shocked to learn that the attending was her father's best friend in medical school. "The attending then said quietly, ‘I was his best friend,’” Wenger mentioned in a thread. The student revealed that her dad had passed away even before she was born. “This attending never knew my dad had children, let alone had a child that was in med school standing right in front of him in the operating room,” the twin sister wrote on X. The surgeon and student had a sentimental exchange thereafter, sharing stories about the late dad. Wenger also realized that the surgeon’s name was familiar as her mum had mentioned him quite a few times. “This attending and my dad studied together for every test,” she noted.

In another thread, the twin sister shared a heart-melting reality. The surgeon had gone into the field of gynecological oncology due to the dad’s rare form of cancer. “My dad was a biological man but his cancer had a strange feminine origin. The attending devoted his life/career to helping people just like my dad,” she wrote. “What are the odds that they met? I know my dad is looking down today and smiling big time. Such a beautiful moment that shows just how small the world is and how precious life truly is,” Wenger added in another thread.

The coincidence seemed so pure as if it was meant to happen. Wenger also described it as "a once-in-a-lifetime experience." People couldn't get enough of the amazing connection. @celesteperez said, “I’m so happy they found each other!” @Care4AllPeople said, “Hope that helped you know your dad a bit more through someone else’s eyes since you never met your dad.” @beenthatgirltoo noted, “The universe is always trying to put you on the path to finding people that you’re meant to come across and meet.”