1 down, 33 to go
I do have more to say about Utah, but I’m interrupting that to talk a little about what a big freaking day today was. Because it was.
Back in March, I wasn’t allowed to do a clinical rotation because of lifting restrictions from the blood patch nightmare in January. I had to watch as all my classmates went off and did hands on learning, while I was again, couch bound. I had to hear about the highs and lows of my classmate’s clinicals for weeks afterwards, and explain why I had no stories. I had to feel different, defective, again.
I tried to stay positive. I failed.
When you throw missing the first hands-on experience on top of a never-ending headache, missing a crapload of school and a ridiculous amount of stress, positive is not an state of mind that is easily found.
But this morning I got up, showered, did my hair, put on ironed clothes and went to my first day of a 7 week clinical. It wasn’t a perfect day, by any means. I didn’t know the answer to every question I was asked. I hurt over every inch of my body from standing up for 11 hours, my headache is massive. I am exhausted.
But
I didn’t have to quit.
I didn’t have to ask for a break.
I didn’t have to miss out, again.
I know that making it through one full day of work doesn’t seem important or significant. I know it’s probably silly to celebrate a feat that most of you accomplish every single day. I know that.
And yet I’m celebrating.
I’m still in significant pain, but I’m living with and in spite of it. I’m managing. I’m succeeding.
One day down, 33 to go.
12 Responses to “1 down, 33 to go”
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Welcome! I'm Katie, a 28 year old, full-time graduate student who just happened to have brain surgery in November of 2007 to give my ginormous brain a little more space. This blog chronicles my daily life, from relentless headaches to being a doctor's wife. Sit down, get comfortable and stay for a while.
Congratulations on your first day.
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You keep celebrating, you keep fighting, you crumble when you need to you scream when your going to burst and you smile when it strikes. You are a warrior even though you do not see it. 1 down. 3 million 3 hundred 33 to go.
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Congratulations! That one day? IS SO a big deal, to many of us, for many reasons. Thanks for sharing your one day with us.
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I’m proud of you… as usual.
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You just made me grin with pride in you.
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Congrats! You can do it, you can make it through!!
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Yeah … It’s just one day. But it’s one day that you made it! And it’s one day that you showed how strong you really are! Some days are hard … I know that. Getting through work some days seems impossible for me. But to get to the end of the day, to know that you made it, that you could do it, is awesome! I’m so happy for you. Celebrate every victory, even if they might seem small to some people.
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Way to go, Katie!
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exactly it’s a big deal. it’s a day that worked. it’s a day that moved you forward. it’s a good day.
it counts.
well done, you.
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good for you! this one day would be something to celebrate for anyone, but to do it in the kind of pain you deal with everyday? none of us could have done that. so congratulations – you earned it!
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You did good, lady.
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yaaaaaaaaay!
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