Since 1993, David Nott, a celebrated vascular surgeon, has been volunteering his services in disaster and war zones around the world. Affectionately referred to as the "Indiana Jones of surgery", he's been honoured for his work with multiple awards and in 2012 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
Having witnessed the very worst in human atrocities Nott has spoken openly of his struggles with PTSD and he's admitted it can take up to three months to "get over" a mission. Occasionally plagued by anger, violent rage and flashbacks, he's described some of his most severe attacks as "almost psychotic." Following his return to London after a particularly gruelling stint in Syria in October 2014, Nott was in the midst of one such episode when he accepted an invitation to Buckingham Palace.
Within days he was seated next to Queen Elizabeth at a private luncheon. Politely engaging her guest in conversation the Queen asked Nott where he had come from. "Aleppo," he replied. She asked what it was like. Recalling their exchange in his book War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line Nott said, "My mind instantly filled with images of toxic dust, of crushed school desks, of bloodied and limbless children…My bottom lip started to go."
Without missing a beat, the Queen reached for a box in front of her and said, "These are for the dogs." She took out a treat, broke it in half and handed a piece to the doctor. For the remainder of lunch the pair fed biscuits to the gaggle of delighted corgis assembled under the table. "All the while we were stroking and petting them, and my anxiety and distress drained away," Nott wrote. "'There,' the Queen said. 'That's so much better than talking, isn't it?'" Two years later, recounting the Queen's warmth during an interview for Desert Island Discs, Nott said, "The humanity of what she was doing was unbelievable."