Lessons Learned

Many people stand out in my memory:

A woman who appeared much older than her stated age, but dressed much younger than her stated age. She had a history of drug abuse and struggled with the death of her young son and depression. She was a woman who after sharing her stories of abuse looked into my eyes and said, "You have a trusting face. I can't believe I just told you all of that. It took my psychiatrist years to get all of that out of me." I learned the importance of first impressions.

A young girl struggling to breathe, racing heart, blue lips, a high fever and a very low oxygen saturation... She will forever be my first emergency situation. As my preceptor prepped the Emergency Room in our little clinic and the nurse provided a nebulizer treatment and oxygen, I took the history from a panicked mother on the verge of tears. I learned to be calm in a storm.

A man in his 50s suffering from mental illness and chronic pain, labeled a poor historian, because of his inability to relay his health problems... A man with fragile limbs, an expressionless face and child-like behaviors. He was a man that had slipped through the cracks of preventative care. Despite being a frequent visitor of the clinic, he had no records of referral for screening procedures, nor did he have any record of a full physical exam. I was challenged with teaching him about colonoscopies and their benefits. I learned about the sad and true stories of inequality.

Each patient has a lesson to teach and a story to tell; and with each of them I sit and listen with an open heart.

As for life away from the clinic, I spend most of my time with family and friends, being a bum, and working on various homework assignments. I am attempting to get back in shape after nearly a month without being in the gym, but my knee, of course, is giving me a hard time. I look forward to the short bits of time I spend with my lovely boyfriend, the impromptu BBQs with my family, and hours spent watching a good old movie on TV. I pray for our dry and vulnerable state, the well-being of our firefighters and heroes, and those living near the flames and fury. I look forward to the Fiestas in Las Vegas, a night at the Drive In, my family campout, a trip to Alamogordo, spending time with Laura and Tony in Seattle, and many more adventures that the summer has yet to bring.