Cancer - A Trial and a Blessing

During my first rotation in the OB/GYN clerkship, I found myself taking care of a lady with an extremely difficult situation. This was a young lady who had several children of her own. She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and did not likely have too long to live. It had been planned that her sister would take care of her children after our patient passed away. However, things took a turn for the worst soon and her sister died suddenly, leaving our patient and her husband not only without the help of the patient's sister, but also as the primary caregiver for her sister's children. As I thought about this situation I could not help but realize how much I felt for her, but honestly I felt worse for her husband. Not only was he losing his wife, but he now had an additional several children he was in charge of taking care of.
I don't know their personal situation or how well her husband does financially, but I can only imagine the stress and worry and pain he is going through. He has got to put on a strong face for his wife, for his children, and for his nieces and nephews he is caring for while worrying about who will help him raise these kids and how to pay for them all and the medical bills that are surely coming from his wife's treatment. This is the type of experience that makes one truly pray and pray hard.
We know from the gospel that we will not be given a trial that is too difficult (1 Corinthians 10:13). This is the type of challenge that will drive one to their knees but ironically has the potential to bring one closer to God than at any other time in their life. I remember one particular time on my mission (which is a time I spent serving my Church for two years) when my strength to carry on was tested. During this time I felt stretched to the limits of my ability to perform my duties, so much to the point that I fell to my knees prayed for strength. As I prayed, I felt the distinct impression that I needed to get up and the Lord would carry me and help me accomplish the things I was being asked to do. As I got up from my knees I knew that I was being given strength from God to get up. Over the next several months I felt the Lord blessed me to accomplish the goals I had set and truly be a better missionary.
I know my challenge is in no way is the same as this man's, but the point is that the atonement of Jesus Christ has the ability to carry all of us through the challenges we face on a daily basis. As we trust in Him, He will help us get through anything we need to get through and bless us to grow closer to Him at the same time. Alma, a book in the Book of Mormon states the following, "And now my beloved Brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions...with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions" (Alma 34: 40-41). How grateful I am to know that no matter the affliction or trial that may come upon me, if I do my best and rely on Christ and His atonement, I will one day have the opportunity to rest from these trials. I hope this man understands this principle as I know the peace it can and will bring in our lives can give him great comfort in his life and the challenges he will face.

Radiology Day 1

I started a two week rotation in radiology today. I have found out several things so far, first of all many people call radiology a "kick back, put up your feet" type of rotation. As such, often people will come in and do as little as possible then leave for the day to go play. It makes me wonder, are we paying this much money in tuition just to do as little as possible? Or are we paying this much and doing our best to try and get our money's worth to be the best doctors we can be. Whether we are going to be a radiologist one day or not, you never know when a little pearl you learned as a medical student may be the key you need to solve the puzzle for a complex problem of one of your own patients.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, which are revelations given to Joseph Smith as a prophet for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord told Him regarding knowledge: Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. (D&C 130:18-19).
So any type of knowledge we can gain, that is righteous, will help us become more like God because all knowledge comes from Him. It reminds me of Thomas Jefferson. If you ever visit Thomas Jefferson's library in Library of Congress in Washington, DC you'll see that his library was not just books dealing with politics, rather it consisted of geology, medicine, politics, science of many types, scripture, etc. This is the type of person I want to be, I want learn everything I can so that I can do my best to be the best person I can be.

Let the Games Begin!

I am a third year medical student just beginning my rotations. I love medical school. I have worked my whole life to get here and now having the opportunity to be in this field every day is truly a dream come true. I love being able to help comfort patients; I love feeling like a detective as we try and solve the reasons why a patient is experiencing particular symptoms. I love going into a surgery and seeing the organs that make our body work. I love pondering about what I am learning with my upbringing as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Being a member of this church, I am provided a unique perspective in that I know that life is more than just being here on earth, we lived before this earth, and will live again after this life. This and many other doctrinal precepts give me a unique spin the purpose of medicine. Each day I ponder about what I see going on with each patient and what I know to be true from the gospel. I decided to start this blog in order to write down the things I am learning as well as incorporate what I learn with lessons I have learned from the gospel. I hope you enjoy the writings I post as much as I enjoy medical school and the opportunities that are therein.