Saturday, April 9, 2016

Graduation Pictures.....

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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Doctor of Medicine...

It has been a wonderful last couple of weeks...The excitement that brewed about finding out the results Match 2016 was so AWESOME...
I was so glad to have my youngest son here with me to see Match week live...He was here for Spring Break...He opened my messages...especially the one telling us where we were going to live for the next 3 years. The funny part of opening the message on Friday, March 18th is my email was down...OMG...that made the anticipation grow...then finally, I thought let me check the NRMP website...
My son read...we are going to University of Arkansas SW...Family Medicine Resident...A sigh of relief...

So, there you have it...I will earn my Doctor of Medicine degree as of April 30th...and my specialty is Family Medicine!
Selah..

Now, go live your dreams!

#Match2016 #IdidIT #ItisPossible #MDStatus #PUSH

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Match 2016...Results are in...

As thousands of applicants try to sleep the night before the email notification of Match 2016,I'm sure minds are racing, fears are soaring and mixed emotions are apparent. I was somewhat indifferent. Not sure why, but I just wasn't on an emotional roller coaster like I was for Step 1 and Step 2 exams results. I think maybe because those exams were the true stepping stones to getting a residency. I had several dreams that I had matched...and I look to my dreams a lot of times for direction.

So, when the results came in I was on the phone with my good friend and fellow classmate, talking about stuff...she checked her email, and said, "I matched." At that time I was logged on to the NRMP website and didn't see any results posted. Hmmmm....so, I quickly signed into my email...there was an email...the subject line read: Did I Match?...Now, my blood was flowing...I asked her what did her subject line read...lol...it was the same...and I opened it...it said, "Congratulations, you have matched!" I had rehearsed this so many times in my head. I meditated on it...and was pleased to see it manifest. I screamed, jumped around...but, really didn't feel the huge emotions I thought I would feel...

Later that day, I'm out shopping with my youngest son...and it HIT ME...I MATCHED! OMG...I MATCHED! Tears began to roll down my face as I walked through the mall. I couldn't help myself. I was trying to wipe them because I didn't want people to think something was wrong. I just was overcome with emotions. I had such a huge sense of GRATITUDE, THANKFULNESS, and HAPPINESS. For the past 7 1/2 years, I've experienced real life changing situations. However, my determination to complete this had paid off. I made it through. This July I will be a RESIDENT PHYSICIAN. What an amazing journey! ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD!

No matter where you are in pursuing your dreams, remember the 40 year old medical student that beat all the odds, that persevered through loss of her husband, legal battles, and doubt of others. Although falling down several times, I never STOPPED BELIEVING. I NEVER DOUBTED that I COULD DO THIS. I BELIEVED IN ME. I BELIEVED IN THE POWER THAT IS WITHIN ME. I am just so thankful that someone gave me the opportunity. And So can you accomplish your dreams...You can do whatever is in your heart to do. Just don't give up...even when you cannot see a way...Ask GOD to show you the way...and He will reveal it step by step...This is a FAITH WALK...Keep walking!

I matched! #Match2016 #WithGodAllThingsArePossible
Now, go live your dreams!

Monday, February 29, 2016

A REAL JOURNEY....


Good morning Beautiful People...This morning I am reflecting on Family and Friends...

For the past 8 years, I've been on a REAL journey...I haven't been able to make it to a lot of family functions...With taking care of my terminally ill husband (Doctor appointments 5 days/week. I remember one Christmas day he had chemo and we still hosted friends that evening), then losing him to cancer, 7 legal battles intervening in my adoption, raising 2 young men, and in the midst all of this, I was completing my prerequisites for medical school...and now I am on the verge of completing medical school...(‪#‎60moredays‬)...

Can you IMAGINE the AMAZEMENT I FEEL right now?...THIS IS SO HUGE....IT'S BIGGER THAN ME! GOD gave me the strength to continue to move forward at each step...Although it was no easy feat, I never wanted to give up... I just want strength and help to keep going...I had to do this...Put everything on the line...I gave up everything...I only focused on finishing...

Moreover, My Family and Friends have been understanding and have supported me with prayers and encouragement through it all...I haven't been able to make it home for Thanksgiving at my Aunt's house in California in years....I was out of country at school when 2 dear aunts passed away...I missed my cousin's homegoing service, too...I have missed a lot of births, too...I have cousins I need to meet...I missed weddings, too...Medical school does not give time off...It keeps going and going...There's no way you can miss a week...You would be too far behind...

BUT, although I've been absent, consumed medical school...My Family and Friends are coming to my Medical School Graduation...and for that I am forever GRATEFUL...God strategically placed me in the right family...LOVE YOU GUYS!
‪#‎FamilyFirst‬ ‪#‎RealLove‬ ‪#‎RealSupport‬ ‪#‎RealFriends‬ ‪#‎Understanding‬ ‪#‎a40yearoldmedicalstudent‬ ‪#‎WithGodAllThingsarepossible‬ ‪#‎LivingTheDream‬ ‪#‎Itispossible‬ ‪#‎YouCanDoItToo‬ #62moredays ‪#‎MDstatus‬


No matter how challenging your tasks are before you, remember those that truly love and support you will understand the sacrifices you NEED to make in order to accomplish your DREAMS...

Now, go live your DREAMS!

Thursday, February 11, 2016

A GREAT PHYSICIAN....

A very emotional and remarkable day today...I'm into my second week of Neurology clinical rotation...

Today we saw a lot of children with neurological issues, but the one that brought me to tears was a young mother of 5 and her 3 year old son that has been labeled with behavioral problems, developmental and learning disabilities, delayed speech, etc. The child was acting out, screaming, hitting, crying, etc. The mother was so emotional. Her frustration was apparent. With tears rolling down her face, she is now yelling asking for help, asking for answers. It was overwhelming. In her frustration, she said, "forget, I'm leaving. I'll go somewhere else." I begged her to stay. She stated she had been to many doctors, behavioral specialist etc. And no one could help her, no one could tell her what is wrong with her son. She said, "I know something is wrong with him, because none of my other children act like this." Well, today she came to the right office. A neurologist that does not believe in labeling, but treating the patient...

He quotes throughout the day William Osler, "A good physician takes care of the disease. A GREAT physician takes care of the patient with the disease." I'm overjoyed to see he lives up to this. He was able to gain control of the child within 5 minutes and the child sat quietly and followed directions, in which the mother said he has never done before. WOW! But, now she has found a GREAT Physician...I salute Dr. David B. Ross, MD...After the patient left, he turns to me and says, "I'm old school." I LOVE IT!

As you walk your path, you have to make a conscious decision to be there to help, to assist, or hinder. No matter what you decide to do in life, make sure you are there to help, to assist, and/or help resolve issues that are within your realm of expertise. My deepest desire, motivation is to be a GREAT Physician.....I can't wait...77 more days....

No matter what life brings, do not let it steal your GREATNESS!
Now, go live your dreams!

Monday, February 8, 2016

80 days and counting....

Right now I'm so excited...I received in the mail my cap and gown...I ordered it early...I want to have everything in place for my BIG DAY...Graduation 2016!
I have 80 more days of medical school left and I am on one of my most enjoyable rotations, Neurology. I was very nervous about Neurology
because it was very challenging subject for me during my didactics. So, before the rotation began, I pulled out Step up to Medicine and Step Up to CK to study up.
Not to mention, my preceptor is a Ivy league scholar. He graduated from John Hopkins School of Medicine and finished his residency in Neurology at Harvard University...and a fellowship at University of Miami. So, this guy is super smart right? Well, to my surprise he is one of the most down to earth preceptor I ever had.
I love his approach to teaching and instruction. He's very thought provoking and engaging. I find I excel in environments that foster positive learning
over humiliation and ridicule. I'm at ease and feel more engaged. I am glad I didn't let me hesitation of Neurology stop me from signing up for this
rotation...I always say things will work out...and to this date they have...GLORY TO GOD for that.

I'm approaching my last days of medical school and it is totally AWESOME...Many may not understand or comprehend the magnitude of this great accomplishment is for me. I'm a girl that grew up in South Central Los Angeles, first in family to graduate from college and NOW, I'm 80 days from becoming a Doctor of Medicine. I joke about how a spent a few semesters at Compton Community College, but, that goes to show you that it's not about where you are from it's about how far your dreams can take you... SO, DREAM BIG!

My Timeline:
In 35 days I will be getting an email from Match 2016 notifying me that I have matched into a residency program.
In 39 days, I will find out the name of the residency program I matched into...
In 80 days I will have completed all my requirements for earning my Doctor of Medicine degree, Graduation date of April 30, 2016!
In 103 days is my commencement ceremony...

The next 103 days are what I've been working so hard for the past 8 years...The initial dream of becoming a practicing doctor began June 2008...
and now I'm just days away...

No matter how long it takes, do not give up on your dream. Take one step at a time and before you know it, you will get there.
Now, go live your dreams!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

It's A NEW YEAR...I'm making HISTORY!

It's a new year that will be filled with a lot of wonderful accomplishments. FINALLY, after 8 years (the time it took for completing my prerequisites and med school), I will be graduating from medical school...PRAISE GOD...It was a very exciting and emotional journey. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat... I remember when I first began my research on pursuing my medical degree, I came across a few blogs that totally disagreed with my feelings...I remember one 40 something man said he would not have pursued it if he knew all the hard work he had to go through to complete medical school...that's unfortunate...I feel the complete opposite. I am overjoyed that I finally made it to the finish line. I accomplished such a momentous feat...Something that will ring in my history for generations to come...THE FIRST DOCTOR IN MY FAMILY...That's real live legacy in the making...

If many of you remember, at the beginning of this journey, I had a lot of opposition from medical school advisors at my local community college (said I was too old), my husband became terminally ill, I had several legal battles from people trying to intervene in my adoption of my sons, I had to complete my volunteer hours, complete my prerequisites and also maintain a "new" normal within my home....It was all very challenging and very rewarding at the same time....I remember my initial fears of organic chemistry...My new found love for cell biology...my bewilderment of microbiology and most of all taking the hardest exams of my life...lol...AND I MADE IT THROUGH THEM ALL SUCCESSFULLY...

Sometimes in life, pursuing a dream can seem insurmountably impossible if you look at all that is needed in order for it to happen...but, if you take one step at a time you will get there...You must seriously look all that is needed to get the dream accomplished, but don't get overwhelmed with the details. Break them down into steps and as you accomplish one step, move on to the next and then you will look back and see the trail of accomplishments you've left behind. You will make it to the finish line...

It's a new year...full of unlocked, untapped potential...go pursue it...unlock your dreams...believe you can do it and go after it, step by step...

Now, go live your dreams.