Study, study, study

I have been studying, watching drama, eating all day long. This will be my schedule for the next 4 days.

Step 2 CS is coming soon! I kept getting distracted, thinking about my flight status, the transport to go there, the bus tickets to philly, the hostels, and where I wanna go after the exam and whether my stuff will fit in the suitcases, whether or not i should buy a new suitcase, what am i supposed to study for Family Medicine(the rotation that I am supposed to be in right now).. GAHHh the list goes on and on and on. I need to concentrate!

Preparations for the exams are not great but not bad. I just hope I could pass the exam.

Weather here in New York has been better. There's no more snow on the ground though, could be due to the heavy rain last week. It looks a lot cleaner but I miss central park looking white. It's now greenish brownish

Looks different huh. Well it may be a normal thing for an American, but for it it's amazing how a place can looks so different at different times.

Oh. I just realized I hadn't posted any pictures of the people I'd known from the hospital. Am really missing them already.

Anita the fellow in nephrology

From left: Leon the resident, Rafael the discharge coordinator, Alan the transplant fellow and ME!

Marie the other transplant fellow and ME!

Carolin, the other visiting from Germany

I know I am gonna really miss New York but now I am missing my friends who are studying back in seremban and my family too!

Oh and I had to figure out the New Year resolutions and reflect on the year 2009! hmmmm

2009

1. The beginning of the year was all about Cody leaving Malaysia and going to Japan and study

2. My birthday was great thanks to my friends and family

3. Went through Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Obstetrics

4. Passed EOS(End of Semester) 7!

5. Went to Bali!! It was a great trip !!!

6. Had a great time being in the subcommittee of the 1st Malaysian International Medical Students' Conference. Had great experience and know a lot of new friends

7. Became a certified scuba diver thanks to AL!

8. Went through minor postings, ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology and Accident and Emergency

9. The greatest 2 months of my life probably. NEW YORK! of course, I don't have to repeat what happened :)

10. I have become single after 5 years.

Me at Bryant's park

I shall start thinking about my New Year's resolution during my next study break haha. Sorry for such a long post

Merry Christmas!

I did realize that I hadn't been updating this blog for almost 2 weeks now. Well.. my rotations in New York are officially over. Said goodbyes and hugs yesterday to the resident, fellow and attending. It was sad really. I am really gonna miss the rotation.

Just a quick summary of the kidney transplant rotation. I have been to 4 procurements. 2 of the procurements on a private jet(I am still smiling like an idiot thinking about that). Scrubbed in on countless kidney transplant surgeries, one liver transplant, 2 small bowel resections with liver resections and HIPEC( a form of treatment of cancer where they buzz chemotherapy directly on the tumor). and so much more that I can't remember. It's time to write the report.

Am now procrastinating. not studying for the CS. Sigh. I still have so much to do. I hadn't write the report for my elective and selectives. I hadn't completed writing the cover letter for my research. I am still thinking of the souvenirs that I need to buy and figuring out whether I should buy it later or whatever. And I feel restless here probably because I know most of my batch mates are starting class on the 27th December.

I have been so preoccupied that I hadn't realized that it's gonna be a new year soon! It's time to make new year resolutions! well. i should reflect back on what were my resolutions last year. Will come back again. Time to study!

oh, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Amazing luck

I have always believed in karma. And I believe bad luck happens for a reason and I always look forward to the better luck in the future. And I always like to look at the bright side of things. Even though situation may seem tough, I try.

And it seems to be paying back! Continuing from my previous post.. I was in the doctors' lounge in N S Hospital waiting for the liver procurement and it started at 4.30 am! I watched my first procurement. And it was AMAZING.

1. I held the bowel for the first time

2. I held the beating heart in my hands

3. I see the lungs pumping in and out. I can even squeeze it between my hands.

4. When ventilators all off, i can hold the asystole heart and feel the fibrillation after giving few massages.

the thrill is just great.

the procurement was over at about 7.30 am. Then we headed back to the hospital, and guess what, the renal transplant fellow(a doctor who completed general surgery and is doing renal transplant) received a call asking to go to puerto rico for another liver procurement! Immediately i asked if i could go.. and he said he'll try.

Anyway, after that they had to settle the liver.. clean it and put into the recipient. and after that.. he said i could go! I ran home and took my passport.. and then off to the airport! It was this small private jet that seats 6 person. Flight was 4 hours long, It was my first time on a private jet.. and it is seriously a rare chance. Can't believe my luck. :D

me and Alan(renal fellow)
The whole team!
me and Harshal

Anyway.. i finally got home on friday 12 midnight.. feeling happy, i don't even feel tired..was just too thrilled. Though the bad part is that.. my desire of becoming a surgeon is becoming stronger and stronger everyday.

Summary of urology rotation

Monday : Rounds at 7 am(arrive by 6.30 am to get charts and vitals)
Surgery 7.30am - 5 pm

Tuesday : Same

Wednesday: Rounds at 6 am(arrive by 5.30 am to get charts and vitals)
Weekly conference at 8 am
Clinic at 9 am till 1 pm or later
surgery till whenever

Thursday: Rounds at 6 am(arrive by 5.30 am to get charts and vitals)
Weekly quiz on powerpoint presentation at 8 am
surgery till whenever

Friday: Similar to Mondays

Sat, Sunday: FREE!

My summary of the 4 days in Kidney and Pancreatic Transplant

1st day: Rounds at 7 am
Self reading on cytomegalovirus
Rounds at 12.30 pm with the attending
Liver recipient meeting at 4.30 pm

2nd day: Rounds at 7am(arrive by 6.30 to get vitals)
Scrubbed in on my first Kidney Transplant
Watched 2nd kidney transplant for the day
Surgery finished at 9pm

3rd day: Rounds at 7 am
Scrubbed in on a exploratory laparotomy to find primary carcinoid tumor(was asked by the surgical onco team to go scrub cos there weren't enoughs students) - it was GREAT!

Went home at 4.30 pm. Tried to go see the christmas lighting ceremony at rockefellar center but i can't even enter the 49th Street :(

4th day: Rounds at 7 am
Scrubbed in on a Hyperthermic something something. basically it's a surgery that gives direct chemotherapy into the peritoneum. It was cool! FInished at 3 pm. Had lunch.
Went to check some vitals, then watched another transplant.. finished at 9 pm. Was told there was a procurement tonight!!!!
Ate dinner, went home to sleep for half an hour, went to the ER at 11.30 pm. Got on the Ambulance to this hospital. Arrived at 12.45 am. waited. waited. waited. The time now is 4 am. Still no procurement

Feeling stupid

I felt really stupid sometimes. And I have a feeling that I am going to feel that way many times in the future no matter how much I study(even though it isn't much)

Anyway today was a great and exciting day. Oh, just to explain a bit, I am currently now in the 2nd rotation in Mount Sinai, Kidney and Pancreatic transplant. It was a great first 2 days. I have met the director of the transplant department, attended rounds, attended a liver recipient meeting, attended a lecture and watched 2 kidney transplant. Scrubbed in on one of them even. It was great.

Sometimes, it is not what you love doing makes you feel good/great but it is the people you meet on the way. So happen that I met my housemate's boyfriend whom I have spoken to previously on the transplant team as well. He was really, really nice and is a very, very enthusiastic student. Am really glad as he showed me around, told me what to do, and that I could give my numbers to the fellows so that they can call me if there's any procurements. I am really excited and can't wait to go for a procurement. This is the first time i met such an enthusiastic student and I definitely have a lot to learn from him

Also, another good news was that the resident I met today was really nice and really do give encouragement to me regarding the residency application. Turned out that I met quite a lot of people from general surgery.

I just really, really hope that I can get a position, and hope that I pass my CS, and get a way way better score for my CK and Step 3. *fingers crossed* wish me luck!

I will continue to be strong, always be upbeat and happy. and grateful of course.