This is a smattering of pictures depicting two wonderful children on their respective birthdays. I hope you all enjoy these pictures of our wonderful 3 and 5 year old.
Friday, March 30, 2007
A change of Pace
Throughout life we go through changes that tax our senses and help to keep our eyes clear and our perspective fixed. The process of changing; however, is often difficult even if the change is for the better and in the long run is the proper choice.
This week I went from being a zombie of general surgery to a well rested student of family medicine. The change was somewhat painful. You see, this week was full of lectures and workshops designed to help us over the upcoming weeks. It also included lectures about the art and practice of a caring physician. This may sound stimulating but under most circumstances these lectures are a cure for insomnia. Even under the heavy influence of caffeine my eyes droop and my head bobs.
In changing circumstances the bad of one situation is replaced by good; unfortunately the reverse is equally true. As life changes and we ponder their meaning may we hope that good will eventually come of all of it.
By Samuel Grindstaff
This week I went from being a zombie of general surgery to a well rested student of family medicine. The change was somewhat painful. You see, this week was full of lectures and workshops designed to help us over the upcoming weeks. It also included lectures about the art and practice of a caring physician. This may sound stimulating but under most circumstances these lectures are a cure for insomnia. Even under the heavy influence of caffeine my eyes droop and my head bobs.
In changing circumstances the bad of one situation is replaced by good; unfortunately the reverse is equally true. As life changes and we ponder their meaning may we hope that good will eventually come of all of it.
By Samuel Grindstaff
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Exhaustion
"Beep, beep, beep." It's 4:15 am and my alarm is arousing me for another day. I get up, showered and dressed. Then it is off to the National Naval Medical Center. I arrive around 5:00, change into scrubs and then it is time to work.
I start the day by looking up the vitals and labs of my patients, then I go and wake up my patients and see how their night is going. Then I write notes on my patients and prepare to round. By 7:00 rounding is done and it is time for morning report. Then it is off to the operating room or clinic to work until ~4:00pm. Then it is time to round on our patients again, and if we are lucky I get to leave the hospital at 5:00. I change, walk to the car, and drive home and arrive home at about 5:45.
Once I am home I spend time with Caleb and Charlotte, have dinner, put the kids to bed. I have a few moments to decompress and if I am lucky I am asleep by 10:30. I often fall asleep in front of the television.
I think I should be able to function on almost 6 hours of sleep per day, but unfortunately I find myself dragging earlier and earlier every day. On Sunday I slept in till 6:30 and just couldn't sleep anymore. I feel as if I work in a dream. So for the rest of you out there who are sleep deprived, here's to us and a good night sleep.
I start the day by looking up the vitals and labs of my patients, then I go and wake up my patients and see how their night is going. Then I write notes on my patients and prepare to round. By 7:00 rounding is done and it is time for morning report. Then it is off to the operating room or clinic to work until ~4:00pm. Then it is time to round on our patients again, and if we are lucky I get to leave the hospital at 5:00. I change, walk to the car, and drive home and arrive home at about 5:45.
Once I am home I spend time with Caleb and Charlotte, have dinner, put the kids to bed. I have a few moments to decompress and if I am lucky I am asleep by 10:30. I often fall asleep in front of the television.
I think I should be able to function on almost 6 hours of sleep per day, but unfortunately I find myself dragging earlier and earlier every day. On Sunday I slept in till 6:30 and just couldn't sleep anymore. I feel as if I work in a dream. So for the rest of you out there who are sleep deprived, here's to us and a good night sleep.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
We are the Partiots.
In the events that unfold in the world daily there is much of pain, suffering, tyranny and death. Much of war and too little of peace. Over the past few weeks I have worked on the trauma team at the National Naval Medical Center and participated in the care of the brave men and women who have been wounded in Iraq.
The scenes are disturbing, and worse then any movie gore that is used to portray what is the tragedy of war. These brave men and women suffer through months in the hospital, being left different then what they were before. The psychological damage, done, the physical recovery just beginning.
I enter the OR and see who will be our patient for today. After moving him to the operating table he is positioned and prepared to be irrigated and debreded. His wounds are washed out with a hand tool that shoots saline into the wound and sucks up the debris. After this is completed silver impregnated foam is cut to fit over the still open wounds, and are held in place with a wound vac. War is an ugly thing. I have seen the results first hand.
The blood of these brave men and women have washed the soils of Iraq and Afghanistan. In so doing they have helped liberate those who were under tyrannical reigns of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. In so doing they have moved the fight against terrorism off our soil. They have given their all for our freedom. The failures and setbacks aside we should never forget those who have served us so bravely. Some have given their lives. Others will never live a day without the memory of their service written in the scars on their bodies.
Let us all be grateful. Whenever you hear someone complain about the way things are, or stand on the mall in Washington in defiance of the war, remember a soldier, sailor, and marine has given their all to let them do it. That is what makes America so great. Let it be that way always.
By Samuel Grindstaff
The scenes are disturbing, and worse then any movie gore that is used to portray what is the tragedy of war. These brave men and women suffer through months in the hospital, being left different then what they were before. The psychological damage, done, the physical recovery just beginning.
I enter the OR and see who will be our patient for today. After moving him to the operating table he is positioned and prepared to be irrigated and debreded. His wounds are washed out with a hand tool that shoots saline into the wound and sucks up the debris. After this is completed silver impregnated foam is cut to fit over the still open wounds, and are held in place with a wound vac. War is an ugly thing. I have seen the results first hand.
The blood of these brave men and women have washed the soils of Iraq and Afghanistan. In so doing they have helped liberate those who were under tyrannical reigns of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. In so doing they have moved the fight against terrorism off our soil. They have given their all for our freedom. The failures and setbacks aside we should never forget those who have served us so bravely. Some have given their lives. Others will never live a day without the memory of their service written in the scars on their bodies.
Let us all be grateful. Whenever you hear someone complain about the way things are, or stand on the mall in Washington in defiance of the war, remember a soldier, sailor, and marine has given their all to let them do it. That is what makes America so great. Let it be that way always.
By Samuel Grindstaff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
