Best Day at Ross Thus Far!

So I admit...I'm officially the worst blogger ever...I just end up not finding the time that I would like to write about all of my experiences here. However, I couldn't pass up the chance to write about this past Thursday.

In fourth semester, students spend two full days at the hospital...and Thursday was my first day. I got up early, ate breakfast and popped my Dramamine for the hour roller coaster of a car ride to Princess Margaret Hospital in Rosseau, the capital of Dominica. I was a little anxious. I felt confident in all I had learned to prepare myself for the day, but being the first time...I had tiny butterflies :) We arrived at the hospital around 9 that morning and were given our assignments for the morning. There were different specialties that were sent to observe, including family medicine, OB-GYN, pathology, geriatrics, ENT (ear, nose, throat), anesthesiology, primary surgery, and post surgical rounds. I sat there anxiously awaiting my assignment...my first preference would be surgery...no luck...then anesthesiology...no luck there either...pathology?...nope...I began to worry about how much I would enjoy the day but tried to remind myself just to be grateful that I was going to follow around a physician that morning instead of sitting in class. I leaned over to my friend Diana and joked that we probably got stuck with OB-GYN (no offense to anyone that has that profession...just not really what I want to do all day). I ended up with ENT...but poor Diana got OB-GYN (she said she learned a good bit by the end of the morning shift...but she never wanted to see a vagina again). I wasn't pumped about the ENT assignment, but awaited instructions anyway. Then, a guy in my group that had been assigned primary surgery asked to switch to something they had an open spot in, so immediately I asked for his place in surgery and I GOT IT!!! I was SO excited!

We headed over to the OR, which was an experience in itself (note to all reading...hospitals at home can be annoying and frustrating...but we should all be grateful for he luxuries we have by where we live). I went to the ladies dressing room and changed from my "professional" attire and into what I think are some of the most comfortable clothes ever invented...SCRUBS. We were given hair nets, face masks, and booties...a quick overview of the patients we would see that day, and that was it...time to start!

The first surgery we saw was absolutely my favorite and it would be a shame not to explain it fully. The man having the operation had a bad fall previously and broken his femur (longest bone in your body...from the hip to the knee). At the time of the break, he had surgery to reset the bone and inserted a large steel rod to allow the femur to heal. Luckily for this man, his leg had healed very well, however, that meant that he needed another surgery to remove the rod. The surgeon made a 4 inch or so incision in the right hip, and then proceeded to jab back and forth with surgical scissors until the end of the rod was exposed. Once it was exposed, he used fancy pliers to pull on the rod to loosen it a bit. Once he finished with the pliers (with the rod visible from within the mans hip), the surgeon began putting his tools together. The long rod that was placed in the mans leg had a small hole in the end of it. The surgeon put a T-shaped handle onto a long steel bar with a hook on the end. He jabbed this into the leg a few times until he was able to get the hook of his tool into the hole in the rod in the mans leg. From there, it was a tug of war between the surgeon and this man's leg. Eventually, with probably 3 giant pulls, the rod quickly slid out of the mans leg....I know this seems kinda harsh for people that are squirmy...but i ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!...I've often wondered if I would like Orthopedic Surgery...so it was definitely awesome for me to witness one. It's amazing to me how brutal the surgeon was...made me think about how much pain people are in when they wake up...wondering how much of that is from the surgery and how much is from the surgeons method...?

I also saw a prostatectomy, removal of a foot nodule, removal of an epigastric hernia, and catherization of a man that had not urinated since Sunday (keep in mind that I went to the hospital on Thursday). Those surgeries were also exciting, but nothing like the femur rod removal...and that was just my morning.

After lunch we were sent to interview a patient and do a full physical exam. I was sent to the womens ward and met Octavia, a lovely 33 year old mother of 4. She was born with only one kidney and about 5 years ago, her kidney started to fail. She was a wonderful patient. We laughed and she told me all about life in Dominica...and amazingly, then asked me where I was from. When I told her South Carolina she said, "Greeenville, right?" which absolutely blew me away. She said she has a good friend that is going to Bob Jones University right now...small world huh? :)

Well, I better get in bed because it's one in the morning here and I need rest...but I couldn't resist getting this up while I had a few minutes....hopefully more awesome stories will come again soon.

P.S. Aunt Linda: I hope my descriptions don't churn your stomach, but I wanted you especially to know how my hospital day went. Also, I still had that pack of PB crackers you gave me...I took them with me and ended up giving them to Diana when she was feeling sick...so on behalf of her, Thank you for those!!! :) love ya!!!

Mini's...a new measurement of time

Being in med school and living in what is considered to be a third-world country, where the slow pace of island life is clearly high on the priority list, I often find myself losing track of time. The only way I ever know the date is by checking while I sit on the computer doing school work. However, I can't complain (though I often try, and do...I shouldn't).

Today was what I often refer to as "Mini Monday". The school that I attend happens to test all subjects on the same exam. There is one test every month. Ironically, they call these exams Mini's, despite the material that they cover. It's amazing the way these exams can, if you let them, control your every thought and action.

I was very stressed of this last exam (and probably will be until the scores are issued). This was Mini #2...and #1 did not go nearly as well as I had hoped. Therefore, I was doing all I could to prepare for this one. However, that led to more and more stress, which I don't always do a good job of dealing with (it's definitely something I need to work on). I would spend all day studying, and then go home feeling like I didn't know the material. Anyway, I often keep stress to myself. I don't want to appear stressed in front of other people because I feel that they have enough stress of their own...and I would rather be cheerful and try to alleviate their stress. However, for the people closest to me, that I care about the most, that's not always the best. For example, my stress caused me to be short-tempred with my fiance over absolutely nothing. He is AMAZING when it comes to my stressing out and many times has told me that he would rather me take it out on him than bottle it up...but that's not fair to him, not at all. I was also short with my parents, when they were just trying to encourage me to keep pushing and to get the rest they knew I needed...these are the people I love most in the world and yet I often treat them the worst.

Anyway, today before the exam, I got up early to study, but I made sure to leave time to read my Bible before I went. I've been reading through Matthew and today was the story of Jesus walking on the water. When the disciples saw him, they were scared and so Peter said, "if that's you Lord, tell me to come out there with you" (this is my translation of course). So Jesus does, Peter goes, but then the storm got worse and Peter took his eyes of of Jesus. At that point he started to sink into the water and had to cry out for help. I AM PETER!!! When I read the part where Jesus was asking Peter why he had so little faith, I felt like God was sitting there asking me that. Why do I let these exams stress me out to the level that they do. I know that I can't do this on my own..I've never done anything on my own. God designed me to be a doctor at a young age, got me into and through an amazing college, got me into medical school, and he's going to get me out! Why have I had so little faith in that...? I've seen him work so many miracles, just in my family alone...what's a mini exam to Him??? I guess sometimes it takes weird things, like Mini exams to remind you of how amazing God is. Despite the scores that come back from my exam, God did a MAJOR work in my life today! He guided me through that exam, but more importantly , He taught me a lot about my own perspective....and with all that said, this may be the only night I have to relax, so I'm off to do just that!

Life is Good

So I haven't written anything in quite a while due to the heavy load of schoolwork. My first exam for this semester was this past Monday. The email of our responses and the actual answer key were sent out today, so you can calculate your raw score. That's where my day turned sour. However, that's not the purpose of my blog today (or hopefully any day). When I got the scores in my email, I had also received an email from the post office telling me that a package had arrived for me. I know that getting actual mail has lost it's appeal in the States and isn't really something to be excited about anymore. However, when you're on a tiny island and all your loved ones are at home, getting something from them is more exciting than Christmas! My parents mailed me two packages about 3 and 1/2 weeks ago...and today was the day I finally got to enjoy them. They sent all sorts of things, like sticky notes with my initial on them, body spray, and my absolute favorite thing to get down here...FOOD!!! It's hard to find a lot of the normal conveniences of home when you're in Dominica, so in a way (and yes, as cheesy as it sounds) it was like getting a piece of home today in the mail. :) However, my favorite thing out of the two boxes was a green handbag they send. it's a canvas tote from the brand "Life is good". I love their stuff just for the sense of optimism it brings. Not only was the bag green, one of my new favorite colors lately, but it had a daisy (which are my favorite flower) on the front and read "Life is good..." above the daisy. The bag couldn't hvae been more perfect for me and I've already made use of it.

I guess the point is kind of like..."when life hands you lemons, make lemonade", but so much more. I'll be the first to admit that I was absolutely angry and sad all at the same time about my test scores this afternoon. I sat alone in the building I study in with my hoodie over my head frantically writing notecards and getting to work on my new material...determined to rock the next exam. I was short with anyone that even attempted to talk to me. However, I won't blame anyone else for my own mistakes and I take full blame...and although I was rather upset this afternoon, I finally realized that although the frantic studying was good and I was rather productive, the attitude in which I was doing it was completely wrong. All in all, the tote bag I got in the mail today was so much more than a bag to me. It was an instant reminder that I've been blessed...absolutely BLESSED with an AMAZING life. I get to live on a tropical island while pursuing my childhood dream. I have two wonderful parents that are my biggest supporters and never fail to show it, even through something like a care package from home. I have a brother that I absolutely adore and my life would not be the same without. And for the last three years of my life, I've had the most wonderful man standing beside me, facing every giant I do and telling me how much he believes in me. The gifts God has given me, which I completely do NOT deserve are uncountable...I can't wait to see what he has next in his line up! :)

Life's Little Reminders

Last night was one of the hardest nights I've had since being on the island. I had my usual Friday: class most of the day, volleyball in the afternoon, dinner with friends, studying until bedtime. I generally study in a building near my apartment. I got home around 7:30, hopped in the shower and then was off to dinner. I went straight to the study building after dinner and stayed there until 11:55. This is the routine I've had since August of last year...with no problem. Last night was the change. I walked into my room and turned on the light to find that someone had broken into my apartment.

One wall of my apartment is made of wooden slats that open to allow for air flow. This is typical architecture for the Caribbean I assume. There is a large screen (like any normal window screen) outside the slats to keep mosquito's out when the windows are open. I walked into a giant section of the slats missing. Apparently whoever wanted to get into my room had cut a large rectangle of the screen away and then broken the metal clasps on the slats. They were quite neat crooks because they took the time to stack all of the wooden slats nicely in a chair that was on my patio. I was very lucky that I was not involved, such as being home at the time, as well as nothing was taken from my apartment. Luckily I had most of my valuables with me and the ones that were in the room were not in plain view. I was mortified and basically completely freaked out at the fact that someone had come into my room, or even that it was possible.

I spent the day today moving apartments to a room without the slats (simply because it makes me feel more safe). While I was moving, I kept thinking to myself...I can't believe this happened. However my thoughts were quickly turned away from the unfortunate event to the good fortune that God had blessed me with. Yes, someone broke into my apartment and caused some damage to the window unit. However, and I think most importantly, I was and am completely unharmed and safe. Materialistically, I didn't lose anything in the event. Unfortuanately a guy that lives two doors down from me was also robbed and lost his computer and iPod, please keep him in your prayers as he is trying to deal with all of this, on top of the loss of all his school work that would've been on his computer.

I was listening to some music that Chris, my fiance had recorded and emailed to me tonight while I was trying to get things straight in my new apartment. At the end of one of the songs, he goes into a song that most people know, but rarely take to heart...it really hit home with me as I was thinking about all that has happened since last night...

"Jesus loves me, this I know...for the Bible tells me so....little ones to Him belong...they are weak, but He is strong...Yes, Jesus loves me....Yes, Jesus loves me...for the Bible tells me so..."

Not only does the Bible tell me of God's love for me, but Jesus Himself shows it to me in the most miraculous ways. Obviously my first thought wasn't..."oh goody, what's God trying to teach me through this experience"...that would just be un-human. However, now that I've had time to think about it and God has really been speaking to me, I can only thank Him for the grace and protection he sent my way last night. I pray that God takes care of the people that were affected by last nights events, for the men/women that broke into my (and other people's) apartment last night. I pray that God finds some way to get through to them and completely rock their world the way He has mine!!!

The Key to Medical School

So yesterday was the first day of my third semester (start of second year) of medical school. The first two semesters were challenging but fun. They covered classes like anatomy, physiology, histology, and biochemistry...all subjects I have covered in undergrad. However semester 3 marks new territory, or "a whole new can of worms" as my dear friend Suma often says. We are now studying pathology (basically the study of when normal things in your body become abnormal), MMI (microbiology, molecular biology, and immunology), pharmacology (the study of drugs), and behavioral science (basically physciatry and how to interact with your patients). I'll be honest, pharmacology absolutely freaks me out. However, I just have to force myself to stay on top of it all, which I plan to do. Anyway, enough about that...

I often have people ask me for my advice or opinion on things that I have already gone through here. Apart from the usual academic answers, I find that there is one major key to medical school (for me at least...)...which is a solid group of friends. There is a group of 5 or 6 girls that I surround myself with as much as possible. It's amazing the impact they can have on the situations we all face here. Each of them brings something different to the table....

My best friend here on the island, Michelle, just got in today. We've only known each other since the end of first semester, a mere 7 months ago or so, but we became fast friends. I know that I can go to her for whatever I need help with and she'll always be there for me, but my favorite thing is our ability to laugh at some of the most ridiculous things.

Suma is a tricky one. We have been in the same PBL (problem-based learning) group for both semester 1 and 2. She was actually the only person I associated with from my groups on a regular basis. At first, I thought she was JUST a sweet girl with a very deep heart. No matter what I came to her with, she always found the positive in the situation and encouraged me. I've now come to learn of her comical side with her quick wit (especially with Diana). Suma if you read this, please don't get mad about the picture...we kknow you have no problem with your mandible, but I need more pictures!

Mary (unfortunately not in the picture) brings some northern spice. She shares a great passion for sports, particularly football with her, but still. I always enjoy her stories from home...but mostly I like to remember the time she saved me from Angelman....TWICE! :)

Diana (mentioned in Suma's blurb)....oh "double d"...there aren't really words to explain this girl from northwest Arkansas. She's absolutely hysterical and someone I find a true joy to be around. She shares my love for sarcasm and we often tend to spark each other in that direction. While I love Mary's stories, I love to WATCH Diana tell her stories with her infamous hand gestures as she explains.

Steph is my favorite Canadian girl ever. She has such a sweet spirit and always wants to help people. I admire her determination to any task she puts her mind to. She has competed in ironman competition, which I find absolutely astounding and something she should be incredibly proud of. One day I might be able to keep up with her when we run :)

So I'm sure that most people that read this haven't and probably never will be able to meet these 5 incredible women. However, I can tell you, that if just some of their attributes rub off on me during the course of our friendship, I will most certainly be a better person for it! I love each and every one of them dearly!...but for now I'm gonna run...time for dinner..with the girls!!!

Holy Mother's Day!!!

First, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the mother's that read this (I LOVE YOU MADRE!!!). I honestly think that you have one of the hardest jobs on the planet. Motherhood is quite a ways off for me, but it is an experience I look forward to.

I have to say that I have been completely blown away by thing things God has allowed to happen in the life of my church recently. I attend NewSpring church (www.newspring.cc CHECK IT OUT!!!). I was able to be at home ( on break from school) April 24th through May 7th. During that time I was able to attend NewSpring live at the Greenville campus twice. I'm not usually an overly emotional person, but when God allows us to be part of his miracles, I just can't help it. I've completely boo-hoo-ed (I think I just made that a word...) my way through the past three Sunday's (including today's service which I watched live online). The church is currently in a series called "The Gospel". The whole reason NewSpring exists is to make the name of Jesus Christ famous, one life at a time....so what better way to do that than to simply preach the gospel. During this series over 1,000 people have given their life to Christ...OVER ONE THOUSAND!!!! THAT IS GOD'S WORK! I'll be the first to say that NewSpring is an AMAZING church and it is led and filled with people of God that are willing to get out of the way to let God have his way, but these 1,000+ people have nothing to do withthe church, or the people "running the show". WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD and it is only because of Him that these 1,000+ people will be forever His! I started thinking about what 1,000+ people looked like. I'm a visual learner however, so I had a hard time picturing that. So here's the best I could come up with...with each dot representing a person that will now be spending eternity in Heaven: ......................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................
that is 1,000 dots, so there were actually more than that. I know the dots are small and this may seem insignificant, but just try to think of that small dot as a person, maybe a friend or family member. I just can't get over the things that God is doing THROUGH our church!!!

Mother's Day is always a day I look forward to at my church. As I already mentioned, I sat watching the NewSpring service on their live web campus this morning at 11:15 and wept. I can't begin to explain the impact this message had. I highly encourage that you go watch the service (www.newspring.cc just click on the "join us online" tab on the right, the next live service will be at 6 p.m. tonight, or you can get the messages for free on iTunes podcast!) The best way to describe the service was a spin from the hit t.v. show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. NewSpring gave a home to a single mother and her 6 year old son. The mother was truely working hard to give her son the best in life. She was working, going to school to further her education so that she could have enough money to one day send her son to college. But with all the struggles, the home wasn't high on the priority list. So tons of volunteers from the church came together and made this house a home for the lady and her son in just 8 weeks. Also, the church gave the mother a scholarship for her education expenses and started a scholarship fund for her son. That wasn't all! Not only did this dream become a reality for this family, but also for another lady in the church. She was also a single mom with a daughter. This lady was in a similar situation, working, going to school, and volunteering at NewSpring. The mother and her daughter had been living with her parents for over two years. The church found her this amazing apartment so that they could have a place of their own. She also received a car, and the church paid off her $7,000 or so debt that she had desperately been trying to get rid of. Like I said, these words aren't enough to fully appreciate it, so I encourage you to check it out for yourself.

The look on the faces of these women, such gratefullness, I believe is what brought me to tears. However, it wasn't that they were necessarily so grateful to the volunteers (although I know they were extremely grateful to them as well), but it was their love for Christ. They recognized that they did not deserve any of this, but it was given to them anyway. That is the story of every Christians life. Not a single one of us deserves the grace and forgiveness of Christ, but He gives it to us anyway. It's something that still, after being a Christian for around 14 years, absolutely blows my mind. I'm so pumped up writing this, so I hope that some of it made sense...Glory to God for the phenomenal work that is being done through NewSpring Church...I'm so grateful to be a part of these miracles!!! And the best part is...I know God is just getting started!!!!!!

A Day to Remember...

April 28th is a day that will be printed in my memory as one of the greatest and most memorable days of my life. It was on that evening that Chris, my boyfriend of almost 3 years, asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I've been asked to tell this story numerous times, so I figured it was worthy of putting on here...I'm generally a horrible storyteller, but I'll do my best. Also, the words I use won't do justice to the actually event, but it's what I have for now :)

Chris led a Bible study on campus during college. It always met in the Sullivan builidng, so he told me that he ws going to have his last one and he really wanted me to be there...of course I wasn't going to miss it because I knew it was really important to him. So...I got dressed in my usual comfy clothes, holey jeans and plain white T with a long scarf and flip flops and headed over to campus. When I got there I walked in and there were rose petals all over the floor that led into the main room. By then, I was pretty sure what was going on... :) So I walked into the main room where the "bible study" was supposed to be. I walked in to find Chris sitting on the stage with his guitar. He asked me to sit in a chair that he had put in front of the stage. There was a table beside the chair with a box of tissues (just incase) and a huge bouquet of daisies (my favorite!). I jokingly told him that he lied to me and that this wasn't the typical bible study...although I wasn't complaining! ;) So I sat down with this huge grin on my face...he has put together a slide show. It ended up being around 90 slides from the first picture we had ever taken together all the way up to pictures of us dancing at Beth's (one of my best friends) wedding three days before. While the slideshow was playing he played 3 songs on his guitar, "Tangled up in you" by Stained..."Steady As We Go" (which is pretty much the best song ever at describing our relationship) by Dave Matthews Band, and "God of this City", which we both absolutely LOVE! So he sang those songs, the slideshow ended...he walked down from the stage to where I was and said "and there's one more thing..." and he dropped down to one knee, told me he loved me very much and asked me to marry him! :) :) :) :) :) of course i gave him a huge hug and a kiss...after which he looked at me and was like...."so....?"...so then i realized that i never technically answered his question! so I said yes as he was still holding my GORGEOUS ring...which he reminded me he bought for me and that yes, i could have it....haha...i just got so caught up in the question and the moment that i forgot about the ring and the answer...after all of the hugs and kisses we packed his stuff up and met my parents and his at Sullivan's downtown....it certainly was an amazing night!!

the ring is amazing...he worked with a jeweler and had it built...the center stone was his great grandmother's and is over 200 years old...special touches and all of his sneaky but special planning made it the most amazing proposal i could have ever dreamed of...the text of this message can't really express how awesome it was, but hopefully it'll give you so sort of an idea...

i'm in love with the most amazing man i've ever met...and one day, i'll get to call him my husband! :)