When people ask why I became a veterinarian, I like many colleagues have a standard explanation: that I was born with a scientific curiosity and a passion for animals, that I was brought up watching animal documentaries, that I have kept dogs and cats for much of my life and that I have always been an avid fish-keeper. But sometimes, when I am in a story-telling mood, I'll tell them my tale of divine intervention.
As a scientist I am a sceptic at heart. We scientists like to probe for a deeper truth and are always ready to challenge established beliefs, either in an attempt to disprove them or, more often, to find further evidence to support them, hence reinforcing our faith in such and such a theory. Occasionally some of us have a moment of clarity and, through sheer imagination and force of will, come up with a new theory of our own.
Within the context of being a sceptic, I also don't believe in coincidences. When faced with a problem, the quick way to the solution is to assume there are no coincidences.
So in medical terms, if a single disease process can explain all the symptoms present, then it is pretty safe to make the conclusion that that disease is most likely to be causing all the problems. Rather then looking for multiple causes for the symptoms, I just go ahead and do tests that confirm the presence of that single disease. More often than not I am correct, and treatment need not be delayed while waiting for more test results. Occasionally, rarely, I am incorrect. This is a good way to do things when time and money are factors for a client and patient.
Extrapolating this concept, there has been a series of coincidences in my life, a chain of unlikely events that has led to my becoming a veterinarian. This story is almost as preposterous as the so-called butterfly effect, which postulates that when a butterfly flutters its wings in one part of the world, it can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world. In other words, no matter how small a change in someone's life, it could totally change life's outcome.
My story starts with one of my earliest memories. It's a vivid memory indeed - not like a dream, more like a defining moment.
I was about five years old and living in Kwun Tong. On the way home after school every day I would take the same route up a steep set of steps. At the top of the steps I would always turn left and head straight home.