I haven't blogged for a long time. Too caught with the action I guess. I'm currently at the second part of POEM, which is the A&E.
A&E is very different in many ways compared to all previous hospital experiences I've had, especially in the Royal. I've had my fair share of nights in the department to see some 'mad' stuff. It's a great experience for medical students, but not so for the victims/ family members - but that's a story for another day.
Some perks in my A&E posting:
1) I don't have a dress code to apply to. :D
2) I walk in scrubs all day - feeling all important.
3) I get to see everything from headaches to sore toe-nails. ;P
4) I get to get your hands dirty and do some crazy stuff, i.e. suturing!
5) There is no fixed timetable - I go in anytime, leave anytime! :D
There are some down-sides to A&E as well, but focus on the good things, it is an awesome experience. 1 more week to go, but I don't I'll be going in for any more crazy night shifts. Going back from the hospital at 2am; once is enough for now.
Another interesting bit - I met an elective student doing A&E in Royal; who said that it was God's plan for him to do his elective here in Belfast! He aspires to be an A&E doctor! How cool is that?! :D
POEM - A&E
Who Am I
I wanted to blog about this for a long time, but time did not permit. This was one of the events that made my summer the most memorable ever! I really miss dancing, the trip and the people!
Who Am I is one of 1 a.m. productions I was involved in during summer. Although this was not new, I was really glad to be finally part of it - I really really wanted to learn the routine since whenever. I was blessed enough to not only do it once, but TWICE! First was at Project Dance HK. And the second time was at to God be the Glory, Grace Church, Shah Alam, where I shared the testimony below:-
I used to always wonder who I am to God...
I was brought up as a person who believed I could do everything myself. I don’t need to rely on anyone to do what I want to do, to achieve MY life goals. It was the same for God as well, even after I accepted Christ.
I did not put God in the highest priority in everything I do – be it studies, family, responsibilities or even in a church ministry. It even came to a point that I was encumbered with so many tasks in my life that I feel I need to stop serving God just to better handle my life – or so I thought.
But things only became even more overwhelming. I was so burdened I was very sure I was going to fail. And I was very frightened. I frantically looked for something I can trust and hang on to for strength, peace or someone that can bring me through. I know that I cannot go through this ordeal with my own strength. I was reminded of a familiar verse – Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” With determination to pull through and many prayers, God not only brought me through, He even put me in one of the best universities in the UK to continue my studies.
The journey didn’t stop. I learned to put my trust in God bit by bit. Every decision I make, even small ones, I realised that those that I placed in His hands always somehow worked better. I learned that I serve God because I need to and not when I felt like it. It reminds me to be a grateful Christian.
As I continued relating and serving God, I realised this – #(1) – if I put God first, everything else somehow seems to fall into place, and #(2) – that there is a greater plan other than mine – His plan is much bigger and better than the one I’ve been imagining. This journey of obedience and servant hood has brought me back here humbly sharing my story to you.
Finally, I’ve found that when I was wondering who am I to God, He’s already at work telling me it’s not what I’ve done but what He’s done for me - His grace, His strength, His forgiveness and His love that’s been there for me.
If you are also wondering about your identity, let me introduce to you my God. :)
Enjoy the 'shaky' video!
p/s: Thank you Sharon for making my testimony more 'dramatic'! ;)
p/p/s: Thank you Albert for recording this video!
p/p/p/s: More summer events coming up, when I get the time. ;P
POEM - Anaesthetics
And so I've started my first week of clinicals of my first 4th year block. There are 3 parts to my Perioperative and Emergency Medicine (POEM). To put it into simple equations:
The sub-blocks will 2 weeks each. I've started with anaesthetics. And I must say, it has been an interesting week! I'm just glad to be doing real things to real patients! I know I might have hurt them sometimes, so here are my humble apologies (not that they will read my blog), but every medical student have to start somewhere...
The 'deadly' Venflon. ;P
The 'Butterfly'; that stings like a bee!The Venflon is for drips and the Butterfly is for drawing blood. No, I did not steal them! The just so happen to be in my pocket when I arrived home! My fault actually, because I took some spares in my pocket when I'm cannula-ting/ drawing blood from my patients.
So far, I've done about 8 successful cannulations and drawn too much blood, but definitely far from the good skills I've seen some doctors have.
Been in the theatres for most of my time in the hospital, watching and learning from the anaesthetists. If anyone thinks it's just sitting behind monitors and tweaking knobs and switches when the surgeons work away, then you are wrong! There is so much to patient management before the scalpel and after the sutures, from fluids to pain management, that I did not expect in an anaesthetist's job description! And there's so much to study for it too!
I was in the hospital average between 8.30am - 5.00pm lately, and I don't think it will be any shorter for other blocks. I really wanna study this weekend, but I think there's much self pampering that I need to do first. ;P
Eve's tag!
Wow! Even before I could tag her, my sister tagged me first! Here goes...
1. At what age do you wish to marry?
Max: 31; if the conditions below are met,
1) I have a girlfriend.
2) I am financially stable.
3) I am spiritually wealthy.
2. What is your most favourite thing to do?
Currently and for many many many years to come: sleeping. Will definitely not get enough of them in the career path I'm in. If I got time to spare, then definitely dancing! XD
3. If you have a close close close friend since childhood who loves to take away whatever you like, including guys/girls, and he/she always wins, will you still consider him/her your friend?
Well, I don't want to be a friend like that... but I would most likely still consider that 'person' a friend.
4. What would you give up in return to eat all you want in the world and not get fat?
Do I have to give anything up? LOL! NO! I can feel my pants tightening already!
5. If you can have 1 dream to come true, what would it be?
To have already graduated... Studying for so long is really taking a toll...
6. Do you believe you can survive without money?
For some hours, yes.
7. What are you afraid to lose the most?
My mind. Doing psyche later this year - scary!
8. When was ur latest best moment?
My summer holiday! XD
9. If there’s someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?
Yes, when I'm sure of it.
10. List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you.
1) She is smart.
2) She is funny.
3) She's my sister. ;P
11. What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?
I'm keeping this open... :P
12. What is the thing that will make you think he/she is bad?
Back-stabbers & hypocrites.
13. What is your ambition?
To achieve THE destiny that is planned for me.
14. Is anyone really perfect?
We are not, but we can be...
"God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." - Hebrews 11:40
15. If you had a choice to be rich or happy, which one would you pick ?
I want to be rich - spiritually; then I will be happy in His presence!
"Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life." - Proverbs 22:4
16. If you have a chance, which part of your character you would like to change?
Perseverance. Romans 5:3-4
17. Who is the person that you can share all your problems with?
My family! :)
18. If someone had found a path to immortality to be bestowed upon you in exchange for one of your abilities, would you take it, and what would you sacrifice for it?
I have already found eternal life. :)
19. What is the best thing that had happened in your life?
To be born again...
And so I tag...
1) Patrick Tee (needs to update his blog.)
2) Jeng Haw
3) Jia Li
4) Caryn (bcos she asked me to update mine.)
5) Chia Ling
6) Evie Looi
7) LinFoong
8) Nana! (so that u can relieve some of that 'finals' stress... ;P)
