The Psych Ward

Time has been flying by since I started my clinical rotations. I have been so busy and moving around way too much. I am currently on my 4th month of living away from home. Since Halloween is tomorrow, I thought it was appropriate to talk about my last rotation, psychiatry. I started out in the psych ER, in downtown Fort Forth. Keep in mind that there is a wide spectrum of the severity of mental illness and I was dealing with the most severe cases. I don't care how much time you spend studying, how many textbooks you read or how many lectures you attend, you will not be fully prepared for what you will face in the psych ER. One of my first interviews went like this...

Me: "Do you ever hear any voices that other people don't hear?"
Pt: "Yes"
Me: "Do you hear them right now?"
Pt: "Yes"
Me: "What are the voices saying?"
Pt: "They are telling me to kill you."

Studying medicine can make you afraid of many different diseases. But some severe mental illnesses can mean loosing everything you thought you were, your personality, the core of what makes you, you. Loosing your ability to have close relationships and maintain a job. Loosing all sense of what is real and what is a hallucination or delusion. Now that is truly terrifying and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

The hallway in the hospital to the psych ward.

Paris

Taylor and I have a tradition of taking a trip every year, to celebrate our anniversary. I knew this year I wasn't going to be able to get away in May, during my surgery rotation. So after our time in Spain, we headed to the most romantic city in the world for a few days.

 Notre Dame is celebrating it's 850th anniversary this year. The cathedral received all new bells and hundreds of people gathered around to hear them for the first time. It was so beautiful, I was fighting back tears.

 Of course we had to add our own love lock to the bridge.

Taylor tossing the keys into the river.

Luxembourg Gardens

The Louvre

So happy my brother was visiting Paris with his study abroad class!

Found Moby and Bella's doppelgangers at this cemetery.

Sacre Coeur Basilica

Lighting a candle for my grammie.

Taylor always keeps me laughing.

More laughing.

Musee D'Orsay

The climb to our flat

Our view

Macaroons

I do have to say that as much as Taylor and I love traveling together, some of the most fun times we have are just making dinner together at home and renting a movie. I'm so looking forward to the next five years!

A Sister's Letter

My sister gave me one of the best presents I have ever received when she wrote me this letter on my birthday. I just had to share.

Dear Emmy- 

You were born on a Sunday—Mother’s Day, in fact.  I stayed the night with a friend and Dad called early that morning to tell me I had a new sister. (I was relieved.  A little brother was out of the question because I didn’t want to share my room with Legos or G.I. Joes.)  I got dressed in a blue and white romper that had ties at each shoulder.  Grammie drove down from Austin to take me to the hospital to meet you for the first time.  

When we got there, Mom and Dad were still debating whether to name you Ashley or Taylor.  Your umbilical cord stump was alarming.  (My six-year old brain was convinced that you were born with an olive stuck to your belly button; Mom promised me it was normal.) You looked small, but I remember being surprised at how heavy you were.  With you in my arms on your very first day, I recognized that having a sister was weighty, substantive.  And I loved you. 

Curiously, I don’t have many memories of your infancy.  I remember that you grew into an adorable toddler and an enviable preschooler.  I remember that you would sing and tap dance for anyone who would smile.  I remember Mom trying to convince you not to talk to strangers and you declaring (emphatically) that “all the people in the mall aren't my strangers, they’re MY friends!”  I remember that you were charming and entertaining and effervescent.  As you grew up, it was clear you were also brilliant.  And happy.  And energetic.  And so many other wonderful things.

It’s a crying shame, I know, but it took me twenty years to appreciate the person that you are.  Now, on your twenty-fifth birthday, I want to tell you that I love you twenty-five million times more than I did when we first met, on your birth day.  I love that you are good-natured and patient and overwhelmingly, breathtakingly optimistic. 

Being your sister is substantive; knowing you has been a saving grace in the past few years.  I love you Sister, and I wish you all the best today and always.

Sincerely,

SEE

A Heavy Heart

Several tornadoes touched down last night in North Texas, including an F4 that hit Grandbury, killing at least six people and injuring over a hundred. I had no idea of this when I went into work but I quickly learned the details when my first patient was a victim of this tornado. I spent most of the day in this operation, seeing her face slowly get put back together. Her sister was also in surgery in the operating room next door. I know bad things happen every day but their story just broke my heart. I was glad they were both doing well but I came home with such a heavy heart. I made Taylor give me an extra long hug and I am currently making a list of all the people I need to call to remind them of how much I love them. I'm counting my blessings and praying for everyone affected by the tornadoes.

Mas Espana

Our last few days in Madrid...

Going to the third big art museum in Madrid, the Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Retiro Park

Frisbee on rollerblades

Couldn't get enough churros

Riding the Teleferico

Loved this.

Madrid has the largest open air market in Europe.

 We had the best burger ever!