The Brighter Side of Life

It's 1am on a Thursday morning & I'm still up. As usual.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was a day filled with one word: inspiration.

First, the ability to dig DEEP within your brain to re-access knowledge & skills from the past that hasn't been used in years & being successful at it (despite doubts & honest fears of unsuccess) encourages & inspires one to keep on going & re-invigorates the spirit.

Second, going to work unexpectedly, caring for patients who are suffering from the worst possible diseases & medical problems, & STILL seeing an extremely positive & grateful attitude within them, is rare. And in those rare moments, one can't help but have a mixture of emotions.

For one thing, having patients like that is a breath of fresh air, since most of them have such a negative & discouraging outlook, understably of course.

In addition to that, it makes one re-analyze their OWN life to see how every single day, society complains about so many things, a majority of those things being so miniscule.

It makes you feel kind of embarrassed & ashamed, to be frank. If these patients, who are in the worst possible state the human body could possibly be in, STILL have a much brighter & more positive outlook on life, it makes you realize that we all sweat the little things & should be more grateful with what we have.

I am nothing short of inspired. And encouraged.

Life is something we should all strive to love & respect...

...& to also let go of the little complaints & have gratitude for being ALIVE.

I love what I do. This is what I live for.

To make myself available for the healing & well-being of others. And to become healed myself from the experiences I gain.

I am so lucky & thankful.

'Til next time.

Deuces.

The Healing Power of Friendship

Earlier this evening, I watched a movie that really touched my heart & made me depressed at the same time. It was a movie that showed the horrors of genocide while simultaneously conveying the underlying message that true friendship & caring for one's friends is not barred by background, culture, beliefs, & other differences that may divide them. At least that's my take on it.

The movie that I'm referring to is "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". It's an amazing, eye-opening film somewhat reminiscent to "Schindler's List", in that it portrays the evil of the Holocaust. In a nutshell, the story revolves around the son of a Nazi befriending a jewish prisoner of the same age in a concentration camp. The two build a relationship & sort of "brotherhood" that, despite knowing their differences, remains unbreakable, even until the tragic end.

Not only did this movie move me in a way that both the film "Schindler's List" & the novel Night did, but it re-opened my eyes to the message that friendship knows no boundaries & that truly caring for others, despite certain issues, transcends above all.

I'm grateful that I watched this film. And I am also grateful for the friends that I have in my life. We may not all agree on certain things & we all come from different backgrounds...but at the end of the day, our friendship is what I cherish.

You all are my therapy & the healing that I need in times of difficulty. You keep me going.

If you haven't seen the film, see it as soon as possible.

'Til next time.

Deuces.

Two Suggested Books For The Student Studying Medicine

Here are 2 books that I recommend for any student studying in the field of healthcare & medicine:

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

The Manual of Surgery by Alexis Thomson & Alexander Miles

I realize there are numerous books regarding medicine, but these 2 in particular are what I’ve read over the summer, & I really enjoyed them.

The former explores the world of human cadavers & reveals how many different ways they can be used, either in research, education, or experimentation for the benefit of medical students & society.

The latter is an older written text that dates back to the Victorian Age when surgery & medicine were experiencing great changes. Yes, it’s old, but it teaches the numerous ways surgery can be performed holistically & how various forms of injury can be dealt with…many of which have become the foundations for medicine today.

Two great books. I’m glad I was able to read them.

'Til next time.

Deuces.

From The Eyes Of A Migraine Sufferer

Borrowed from white coat

This is what someone would look like from the eyes of a migraine sufferer.

Crazy isn’t it?

Night Owls, Unite.

It’s nearly 3am & I am still up. And when I say “up”, I don’t mean I’m drowsy & attempting to fall asleep. I’m WIDE awake. I’m what society calls a night owl.

Basically, a night owl is someone who stays up past midnight & into the wee hours of the early morning. Other night owls like me usually work the graveyard shift or swing shift.

I can’t explain why I’m this way. People think I’m nuts, & understandably so. But for years my circadian rhythm has been all kinds of screwed up. It doesn’t help that I’m studying in the field of healthcare & medicine, which inevitably requires you to become a night owl.

Never been a morning person. I’m capable of waking up early, but you’d have to move mountains to wake me up, especially when I’m in deep sleep, as in Stage-4 REM deep.

Personally, I find a certain relaxing & serene quality during the night hours. When the moon is out & it’s light shines through my windows, I feel at ease. All the stresses, pressures, & annoyances throughout the day disappear, & I have time to myself to reflect & contemplate while all the early birds I live with are sound asleep. Even spontaneous night drives with the windows down give me a sense of peace.

I don’t know. Strange? Maybe. Oh well. I’m still awake. Might as well study…or read…or continue watching tv.

Night owls unite.

My question for you: Are you a night owl or an early bird?

‘Til next time.

Deuces.

Life in the O.R.

I've decided to update my blog weekly or bi-weekly since I suck terribly at updating. However, that gives me more stories to tell than if I updated daily. So we'll see how that goes :)

So in my last blog I stated that I finally am back in the workfield. This time in the Operating Room. And may I say, ever since I started, I've loved every single minute of it so far. This is my field...the area that gives me adrenaline & that allows me to gain knowledge that only so few my age can dream of learning.

Then again, this is me...probably the biggest medical geek you'll ever meet. Going into the hospital in scrubs & opening those double doors, the gateway into the OR, is such an amazing feeling. The fact that my peers include renowned surgeons & that I am part of their life saving surgical team awes me.

The best part is that I totally underestimated my position. Not only am I responsible for transporting patients to & from surgery in the OR, but I am also responsible for administering oxygen, monitoring/initiating EKGs, & judging from the OR surgery board which patients be brought down for surgery before others. The fact that I can finally call the admits "my patients" allows me to take a bigger step into my future career in medicine.

I love my job. Enough said. Despite the fact that there will be days of frustration, the pros outway the cons.

I'm proud to be a worker in the Operating Room.

The OR & the hospital is my domain...my sanctuary to gain knowledge & insight into the art of medicine.

'Til next time.

Deuces.

Giving Thanks For Mother's Mitochondria

We all naturally get our mitochondria & mitochondrial DNA from none other than the lady that struggled to carry us in her uterus for 9 months: our mothers. From the moment of conception, to the rupturing of our amniotic abode, to the Braxton-Hicks contractions, to where we are now...our mothers have been there, providing love & care.

I would like to apologize for another long hiatus. Not that anyone cares since no one probably reads this except for possibly one person. I know I'm not the best when it comes to updating & being consistent. But I've been busy like crazy with school, exams, & the hospital. And the best news: after a year of unemployment, I finally am back in the work field. I'm officially an Operating Room Transporter at Corona Regional Medical Center. I work in the OR with the surgeons & RNs & transport the post op patients to & from surgical floor & throughout the hospital. That definitely made my year.

This weekend is dedicated to our mothers. In my opinion, which is similar to Valentine's Day, we should be thankful & appreciate our mothers all year long. Yes, there are moments when we all possibly argue or disagree with our mothers. But that's just being human. At the end of the day, your mothers will always be there to love you. And so should you.

I realize that not all mothers & children are lucky enough to have great relationships. But if it weren't for them, you would only be a figment of her imagination. So be thankful for that.

Give thanks & be appreciative of your mother, your grandmother(s), your aunties, or any "mother-like" figure in your life.

A mother's love for her child is one that can never EVER be replaced or taken for granted.

Thank you mom for everything. For your sacrifices, your hard work, & your dedication to me & AC. Through the ups & downs, I love you with all my heart.

Happy Mothers Day to you.

'Til next time.

Deuces.