The update is long overdue. And I have a few new things that I wanted to cover before summer is over so here are a few new things I wanted to share that I felt have moved me and helped to grow and blossom as the blooming doc. I will go from the most less recent to recent to catch y'all up. So here we go!

First... I am in-love with an old man nameD Mr. Rice (not literally). I started doing some volunteer work with him and he developed a friendship with me and another student (I know we weren't supposed to but it's kind of like an adopt-a-senior thing). We usually got together once a week to have lunch or ice cream (even though he totally wasn't supposed to have any).  He is stubborn as an ox, old-fashion to the core, and friendly as the day is long. He was in the Navy for several years and then worked as school lunch distributor for some years. Sadly, his wife had pasted from Alzheimer's over 8-years ago after being married for 55 years and lives alone with his two crazy cats.

Me and Mr. Rice at  Dinner

Oh! He also made some of the most beautiful work carving you ever lay your eyes on and he even made one for me. He said he would carve 'Dr.' on it  for once I graduated school *SMILES* Regardless, he is a part of Arizona that I am really going to miss and a part of me believe that I might enjoy being a geriatrician because of this wonderful man. I really feel like it was a privilege in getting to know him.

The Hand-Made Wood Carving

Second... I am official finished with my first of medical school! Quarter-doctor baby! Really I am going to miss some of these faces: 

(Disclaimer: Everyone else may or may not be missed)

 Rozalin and Me

My best-friend throughout my time here. My future 'Private Practice' partner (yes I am referring to show on TV). My lil'homie (as I used to call her). My Rosco!  This girl help me make through the toughest time in transitioning in being away from home and starting medical school by just being there to help me laugh, focus, engage, and over become a better human being in life. It's one of those friendships you   won't lose because you have 'done time' together and grow up never forgetting that. She is going to Troy, Alabama and I won't be able to see her as often... but it gives us more of an excuse to take a vacation from all the madness.

 

Dr. Brysacz (Left) and Dr. Potenza (Right)

 Dr. Brysacz and Dr. Potenza were both my small group facilitators and they were both by far my favorite educators at our school. Brysacz always gives the students a 'high-five' when they get a question right and Potenza can never tell you enough "how well this group is doing." (He is always impressed with us, despite the fact he is a legend of Plastics and Orthopedics).  They are truly great and the vast amount of knowledge they opened up to me will never be forgotten.

 Table 13

This is my table I was adopted to in our large group lectures and these are some of the people I was closest to in my time here.  Mark (the only guy in the picture) was our captain and all of us were the soldiers, but seriously every one of them made my hell-ish life in medical school that much better. ALL OF THEM will make wonderful and competent physicians and I can't say that enough. Table 13 will never be forgotten.

 Dr. Obadia and I

Here is one of the last people I will miss, my mentor.  She is simply wonderful. Her lectures, attitude, character, and not to mention her fashion sense are something you strive for as an osteopathic medical student. She really made becoming a doctor look easy and something to do with finesse. But seriously, and more importantly, she really wanted the best for her students.  And I will always admire her for that.

Thirdly... I drove home from Arizona with Silver Fox (my boyfriend Nate). In a nutshell,  I got into a bit of an accident from using cruise-control up a hill...ate the world's biggest donut *YUM*... partied up a bit in Nawlin's... pit-stopped in Pensacola to visit Nate's friend... pit-stopped again to visit my girl Schimyah to check in on her new Med School diggs and drove six-hours straight to make it back home to Orlando. Pictures as follows.

 Silver Fox at a Avenue Pub in New Orleans

 Silver Fox and Me at Joe's Farm Grill in Phoenix

 My Car after going 80mph down the Median in El Paso

Nom-Nom-Nom in Austin

P.S. There ain't a dang thing to do in Demming, New Mexico except go to Denny's. (And yes, I did that on purpose)

Finally, dying is probably one of the things I learned most about this summer. Up until this summer I didn't understand what dying really meant until I saw first hand. The death part I understood pretty well- you leave and don't come back. Ever. But the dying part eluded me. For the past two weeks I have been watching a close friend dying of cancer that has metastasized to his entire body. He is only 16.  At this point I would rather watch 10 gorry horror films than to witness what I have seen with this experience. I have seen a suicide next door to me when I was 14 and that still could not prepare me for the long process of this child dying. At this point it comes as no suprise, but this is so much harder than I thought.  I lose my thoughts and words when I stand infront of him, because I can't do anything about it. It kills me to know that. How do I deal? How I can accept that? What can I do? Those are all the questions I have. Anyways, the point I wanted to make was that no one will ever understand until they go through it first hand. I read this book and I think it would be good for the students to read to help understand death. It's in like 20 pt font and like 10 pages - so really it's like a page. The name is:

Gone from My Sight : The Dying Experience
By: Barbara Karnes, RN

Must Read

That's all she wrote folks...for now.

Inspiration:  We are indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. Romans 6:4.