Rural Rounds

I'm thankful that I'm about to start the part of my medical career where I can interact with people regularly, and more than just seeing people, but seeing the same people more than once and getting to develop a relationship with them. Studying, for all it's worth, can only bring so much gratification (if much at all, most times). The real payoff in studying is when it is finally put to use in helping someone. Every once in a while, I get those little moments here and there, and I can remember why I'm pushing down this hard road of medical training. My younger cousin has systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or "lupus" as most people have heard it called. She's only 17. I think most people have at least heard of lupus but few seem to know what it is. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, where your body creates antibodies that bind proteins in your blood, and they get stuck in the blood vessels and cause damage when immune cells react with them. It can cause lung,...

Today was a very special occasion. I am officially done with classroom-based schoolwork. I will occasionally have a lecture to go to, but my day-to-day routine will not be lecture/classroom based. From here on out, I will be working directly with the patients, and I can't wait. It was also the last day that Docapella, as it is this year, would likely ever perform together. As is customary we sang on the last day of lecture for both the M1's and M2's, first in the morning (for the M1's) and then the afternoon (for the M2's). Singing Billy Joel's "Longest Time", I felt we sounded the best we have ever sounded, which made the occasion even more memorable. Our voices harmonized, our fingers snapped in rhythm, and we had our audience completely captivated. Even this evening studying at Lakota, a classmate said that our performances will be the most missed thing about the first two years lectures. That's a huge reward to hear. After my exams next Wednesd...

If any of you who bother to read this have talked to me at any point this year, you know that this is a very grueling school year. Lately especially, with block exams and board exams looming, I have been even more pressured by school. However, Sunday was a very good day. The whole town of Columbia seemed to be on pause; while downtown standing outside the Artisan talking with my mom on the phone I noticed only two cars driving in any direction from where I could see. There wasn't but a couple people now and again walking through the district, and the air was still. The Artisan was equally peaceful being about a quarter full at best, with low-playing Beatles music and the sound of milk steamers and coffee grinders occasionally interrupting. I was studying for block exams while being kept company by a friend analyzed a research article and proofread a report. I was already feeling blessed and in a good mood by the time I met Jeff, who taught me what I believe God had in mind to say t...