Snow and the business of skiing

Today was crazy in the emergency room. I have been asking myself why and have come up with several reasons.  1. the ER is unpredictable, you never really know when you are going to have a rush of patients.  2. It is Sunday, most urgent care centers are closed.  3. There hasn't been much snow to accumulate on the mountains, many ski resorts are making snow because they were determined to open by this week, but the snow it is like ice instead of a nice thick bed of powder. Ice = injuries!  Today I saw three patients with vertebrae fractures, two of which had to be transferred to nearby trauma centers for emergent surgery. One patient should have been paralyzed after viewing his images but his motor and sensory neurological exams were still intact.  For many reasons I am hoping for some snow while I am here, one of them being I have some exposure to ortho cases other than spinal injuries.

Lake Tahoe

Distance

Home

Last week I experienced for the first time what it feels like to need to be home, to be with my family during an emergency, but have no easy way to fill that need. This need makes one feel alone. This need makes 2,000 miles seem like oceans away. This need makes one desperate. However, as a student I have learned to put my needs aside, and I was in the process of doing this when my clinical coordinator, stopped me in my tracks. She told me to stop preparing for my next move to Truckee (where my seventh rotation is), pack my bags and book a flight home. Which is exactly what I did with the help of many.  During times of crisis, when you are most vulnerable it is astounding the people who are supportive in so many unexpected ways.

Thank you Bruce for booking me a flight home with a few minutes notice and acting like its no big deal. Geoff and Kat for dog piling/bear hugging me while I finally processed all my emotions from the week. Becky for sitting in the hospital with my family before and during Gary’s surgery on Saturday, after she had been in a hit-and-run accident, it also happened to be her birthday. Kasie for being as available as possible while in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception. Tracey for “momming” me and telling me I need to go home now, instead of later. Makani, Donovan, and Sedona for making me special dinner with kale, surprising me with Its Its,  letting me have another sleepover, keeping my belongings in your guest room, taking me to and picking me up from the airport. Katisha and Kaitlyn for keeping my arrival a secret so I could surprise my mom and Gary. Michael for being my rock and understanding why I have been a bit absent these past two weeks. And last but not least all the people who have reached out to my family and I to show support.

This past week my success was measured in laughter, and meals, instead of my medical knowledge, bedside manner, physical exam skills and test taking ability. An odd, but welcome change of pace. My goal for the week was to fill in the gaps where needed.  One of these gaps was food! I put 14 meals in the freezer over the course of four days, to ease one of my moms responsibilities over the next few weeks. If you know me well, you know I love cooking.  I love finding exciting ingredients and creating meals. I hate measuring spices and following recipes (unless I am baking), instead I like to eyeball and taste test to determine what a recipe needs. I love the lack of control I allow myself in the kitchen and I love that a dish comes out different every single time. When cooking for myself, I eat about 95% vegetarian. It is a rare occasion that I buy and cook meat. This week I cooked a lot of meat and a lot of cold weather, hearty meals. This week my teacher was not a patient but instead the kitchen. I thought after a day of planning and three epic days in the kitchen I would feel burned out, but mostly I feel energized to keep it up.

One of my goals for the next five weeks is to get back into shape and keep a clean diet. I have found a yoga studio close to the apartment I will be living in that has a great deal for new students. I am looking forward to the new found energy exercise brings and to the soreness.

Callback week

Last week I was on campus all week for testing and lecture. During this week there were many indicators that I am nearing the end of my education at Touro. We took our practice board exams. Which, to say the least was enlightening. It defined my strengths and weaknesses, and highlighted the areas and I need to spend some time studying. We also started to have discussions about graduation. Every time I think about graduation I get emotional. I am looking forward to celebrating my accomplishments with my friends and family. With the people who have sacrificed and supported me through this journey.

With two rotations remaining, the time to decide what I would like to do for my public health field study has arrived. This is the only component of the MPH I have remaining, and I have decided I will be going to Cambodia. I am awaiting my placement on a project I will participate in there. More details to come on this…