But yesterday turned out to be a very interesting and at point, wonderful, day. First, our class got out at 10, which is always amazing. Then we had free BCM lunch of pizza, coke (no lemonade like usual) and a wide variety of little debbie cakes. I was on cloud nine! Then a couple of us practiced our EarNoseThroat exam (ENT). Next I had to go to FLG (faciliated learning group). I normally have FLG on Wednesday but for some reason, was studying in the core lab and fell asleep (not very comfortable down there) and slept through my entire FLG group! Yea, I know, it was crazy! So I went to FLG group on Thursday and I got to be the one to practice telling my patient that they had just been diagnosed with CML or chronic myeloid leukemia. It was an incredible experience. I even got the guy to break character and laugh at the end of it.
It was interesting because different aspects where more difficult that I would have imagined, like simply saying the words you have chronic myeloid leukemia. It was easy to encourage him but hard to the encouragement bounce off of him as one aspect after another continued to swirl in his mind. It was easy to reassure him that I knew that this was not the worst diagnosis and he would have at least 10 more years of carrying on life as he had been, but extremely difficult to see him not believe those words. So, it was definitely a learning experience, but one that left me thinking, I could do this. I want to be there for these people when they have to hear these kinds of things. I want to have the privilege to hold their hand through one of the most difficult times of their lives even to their deaths.
So this week has been very enlightening to me. Like Dr. Marion said (an amazing oncologist), our field is not depressing but is an absolute privilege to be able to do what we do. Everyone has to die at sometime, we are able to be with them so that none of our patients have to do it alone. How amazing is that man? I can't think of anyone else I could want as my doctor if I were suffering with cancer.
Then, Roger's last day was yesterday. I was sleeping on the couch and Roger came in and asked: Do you want sushi? Music to my ears!!! :) very very happy. Had a great talk, then went for sushi. Roger said he met with Warren Jackson (music minister at Church at Red River) and Warren asked him to go to a conference in Atlanta next week, do a bunch of videos for their Christmas production and possibly join the staff part time in January to help them gain some technological ground. How amazing is that??? God is so good. Also, the people at Highlifter were so excited about what Roger has been able to do that they guaranteed that they would call him and give him some contract work (we'll see what happens but what a compliment!!).
Then, on top of all that!! We got a text from Bro. Randy asking if we were interested in his GPS/bluetooth system. We said yes, then got word that it was a mass text and first come first serve (first text actually) and we were first!!!! (Rick was 5th, hahaha) too funny. Who knew fast texting would come in so handy?! And Bro. Randy won't let us pay him for it! I felt like we won the lottery last night. So we'll try to compensate him with technology, websites, free hosting etc in the future.
And even on top of that.... We had 2 new episodes of Chuck to watch last night!! How amazing was my day!! It don't get much better than this.
Bad news now is that we're not going home for the weekend. But that doesn't change my weekend much except not studying in a car. I can't wait to see everyone but we're still not sure when that will be. But until then I'll try to keep you posted. Email me and let me know how you are doing!! I miss hearing from everyone.
Love you and miss you terribly.
-A
