Wow, it has been so long since I have had the opportunity to write. I apologize and promise that I will try to write more frequently. Thank you for understanding that our time is limited, as I am sure you can relate.
To give a little update, I have been blessed to make many friends here in Springfield. My intern class is very supportive of one another and we have become quite close through the many hours spent working side by side. I have also made a few relationships through the church I have been attending. I am also thankful for the hospitality of many CMDA-affiliated attendings within the area. Several have opened their arms to me by either taking me to dinner, inviting me to church, and this weekend I plan to have a little get-away in the home of a general surgeon who is a believer and member of CMDA. I am grateful for the many mentors I have had along the way. To put in a small plug for CMDA, if you have not found a mentor in your area since you have started residency, contact your regional director and they should be able to connect you with someone in close by.
I am also so thankful for my family and friends from Kentucky. Over the Labor Day weekend, two dear friends from home, my family, and a couple new friends here helped to move my furniture from Kentucky to Illinois. It is such a change going from lawn chairs and T.V. tables to a couch and a desk. My house in Kentucky has not sold at this time, and I would appreciate all prayers that someone would buy it soon.
This weekend, I had my first end-of-life discussions with a family while in residency. It was incredibly complex as the patient had taken a toll for the worse and the decision to make a patient DNR or comfort care is always a difficult decision to make. What I found to be the most helpful was to gather information about each option the family had before them and to clearly articulate which route they wanted to pursue. I offered to pray with the family. Then at church on Sunday, the sermon discussed how our time is so limited and that we must make the most of the time we have – making Jesus famous day-by-day. All I could think about was my patient’s dear family and the limited time they have with their loved one. I also reviewed my actions: am I making Jesus famous day-by-day? Can people see a difference in my words, attitudes, and actions? What are we doing with our limited amount of time?
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Dr. Allie Dailey - Week 1: Sustained through Fatigue
One week in to residency and boy, has it been a crazy week!
I scrubbed in as the first assist in an AV fistula creation on my first day! I wasn’t expecting to begin logging cases from day #1 but beyond excited to perform part of the vascular anastomosis with the oversight of my attending. After 2 days, I began working night shift - Monday through Friday.
My first night on call, I felt this incredible amount of responsibility for the patients. It is both a tremendous and stressful feeling. As a medical student, you see a patient and then present to the team. You are never fully responsible for a patient’s care and well-being. As an intern, you receive the first call and have to make the decision, “Can I handle this? Or should I ask my senior for help?” (I called for help multiple times!!) I was never left without support a page or phone call away, yet it was still terrifying to finally have the weight of someone’s health on my shoulders. It makes me want to work harder for the patients, to learn more, and (thankfully) to read more!
I began reading Proverbs in July to seek His wisdom:
“If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright…and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Proverbs 2:3-10
It is only by Him that I was sustained. Quite frankly, I had only received about 7-8 hours of sleep by the time I reached Thursday morning from beginning Monday night. I went to M&M, able to keep my eyes open but unable to maintain concentration. I prayed that God would give me the rest I needed and that He would multiply my energy and knowledge. (I know others are praying for me as well - Thank you!). He poured on me His energy from above and Thursday, I actually slept an hour and a half during my night. By Friday morning, I felt this unexplainable amount of rejuvenation. It could have been that I was elated that I only had to endure one more night on call…but I give the credit to His great mercies!
I am thankful that He has placed me in a supportive environment. This weekend, I am trying to recuperate. I am grateful for His provisions and pray for more knowledge, discernment, and energy!
I scrubbed in as the first assist in an AV fistula creation on my first day! I wasn’t expecting to begin logging cases from day #1 but beyond excited to perform part of the vascular anastomosis with the oversight of my attending. After 2 days, I began working night shift - Monday through Friday.
My first night on call, I felt this incredible amount of responsibility for the patients. It is both a tremendous and stressful feeling. As a medical student, you see a patient and then present to the team. You are never fully responsible for a patient’s care and well-being. As an intern, you receive the first call and have to make the decision, “Can I handle this? Or should I ask my senior for help?” (I called for help multiple times!!) I was never left without support a page or phone call away, yet it was still terrifying to finally have the weight of someone’s health on my shoulders. It makes me want to work harder for the patients, to learn more, and (thankfully) to read more!
I began reading Proverbs in July to seek His wisdom:
“If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright…and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Proverbs 2:3-10
It is only by Him that I was sustained. Quite frankly, I had only received about 7-8 hours of sleep by the time I reached Thursday morning from beginning Monday night. I went to M&M, able to keep my eyes open but unable to maintain concentration. I prayed that God would give me the rest I needed and that He would multiply my energy and knowledge. (I know others are praying for me as well - Thank you!). He poured on me His energy from above and Thursday, I actually slept an hour and a half during my night. By Friday morning, I felt this unexplainable amount of rejuvenation. It could have been that I was elated that I only had to endure one more night on call…but I give the credit to His great mercies!
I am thankful that He has placed me in a supportive environment. This weekend, I am trying to recuperate. I am grateful for His provisions and pray for more knowledge, discernment, and energy!
Friday, July 1, 2011
He will Allure her…
“Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth…”
Hosea 2:14-15, NIV 2011
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth…”
Hosea 2:14-15, NIV 2011
Have you ever felt like you were being led into the wilderness? The commonwealth of Kentucky does not boast of a booming metropolis, but this resident’s new home is less than half the size of Lexington. This fact itself made her fear that she was moving to a “desolate” town with little attractions. Combined with the prevailing bewilderment of learning how to sail in any new city and the fear of being perceived as an incompetent intern, it left much to be hoped for. Yet, she has been blown away during the last week and a half! God truly provided and continued to assure her that this is where He wants her to be at this time.
For her, strength always starts in the Word. About a month ago, the Lord gave her this passage in Hosea. She felt that He was bluntly declaring, “Yes, you are about to enter the wilderness.” Ugh! Thanks a lot! But through it, He promises to allure her as well, “to attract [me] with something desirable,” to invite her further into His presence.
She is determined not to allow residency to be the “black hole” of her journey. She wants to not only survive residency, but to thrive! She is becoming more and more excited with each passing day. Last week she started orientation. During a meeting with HR, her fingerprints were taken and she had the opportunity to meet a sweet lady, whose name was actually Grace. She told Grace she was new to the area and, by the end of the conversation, Grace was telling her about the different churches in town and giving out her contact information, just in case she should need anything.
The next day, she was anxious to meet my co-interns. She prayed that God would unite the residents and that they might serve one another over the next 5 years as a team. God is always true to His promises. So far, they have bonded through a couple of lunches and dinners. It feels like God is putting together many of the seemingly missing pieces. She met with SIU’s CMDA Campus Director yesterday and was so encouraged by his support. He told her of a few other residents who were involved in CMDA during medical school, so she’s planning to meet with them this upcoming week. God has also provided a friend entering into urology to visit churches together and discover some of the unique restaurants in Springfield.
She’s finding that this city is not such a wilderness at all (even though residency may be another story…). It is full of kind people willing to answer her many questions, and it is a city sprinkled with a vast history. Yesterday, a waiter at a local café told her a story about John L. Lewis, who founded the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and his time and significance in Springfield. This is just one small historical tidbit and an example of the caring people the Lord has placed in her path. She loves how He gives little connections one-by-one. When she keeps her eyes open and looks for His work, He surprises her and places her in awe.
Tomorrow is another big day, filled with orientation meetings and new people. With her new friend, she plans to attend a dinner hosted by the young adult ministry of a local church and then worship together on Sunday.
It’s scary to think that next Sunday, she may be on-call, alone and in a new hospital. But for right now, she is enjoying this time of adventure and discovery.
For her, strength always starts in the Word. About a month ago, the Lord gave her this passage in Hosea. She felt that He was bluntly declaring, “Yes, you are about to enter the wilderness.” Ugh! Thanks a lot! But through it, He promises to allure her as well, “to attract [me] with something desirable,” to invite her further into His presence.
She is determined not to allow residency to be the “black hole” of her journey. She wants to not only survive residency, but to thrive! She is becoming more and more excited with each passing day. Last week she started orientation. During a meeting with HR, her fingerprints were taken and she had the opportunity to meet a sweet lady, whose name was actually Grace. She told Grace she was new to the area and, by the end of the conversation, Grace was telling her about the different churches in town and giving out her contact information, just in case she should need anything.
The next day, she was anxious to meet my co-interns. She prayed that God would unite the residents and that they might serve one another over the next 5 years as a team. God is always true to His promises. So far, they have bonded through a couple of lunches and dinners. It feels like God is putting together many of the seemingly missing pieces. She met with SIU’s CMDA Campus Director yesterday and was so encouraged by his support. He told her of a few other residents who were involved in CMDA during medical school, so she’s planning to meet with them this upcoming week. God has also provided a friend entering into urology to visit churches together and discover some of the unique restaurants in Springfield.
She’s finding that this city is not such a wilderness at all (even though residency may be another story…). It is full of kind people willing to answer her many questions, and it is a city sprinkled with a vast history. Yesterday, a waiter at a local café told her a story about John L. Lewis, who founded the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and his time and significance in Springfield. This is just one small historical tidbit and an example of the caring people the Lord has placed in her path. She loves how He gives little connections one-by-one. When she keeps her eyes open and looks for His work, He surprises her and places her in awe.
Tomorrow is another big day, filled with orientation meetings and new people. With her new friend, she plans to attend a dinner hosted by the young adult ministry of a local church and then worship together on Sunday.
It’s scary to think that next Sunday, she may be on-call, alone and in a new hospital. But for right now, she is enjoying this time of adventure and discovery.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Changing Seasons
“Seasons change, friends move away, and life goes on from day to day. Flowers fade and streams go dry and many times we wonder why. Yet we can always be assured because God tells us in His Word, that unlike changes in the weather, love goes on and lasts forever.”
-Unknown
-Unknown
A new season, a new chapter.
Wow! How time flies! She graduated from medical school about a month ago after “matching” into a general surgery residency program. She feels a mix of emotions every time she thinks that, in just a few days, she will be a general surgery intern! It is both unbelievable and amazing to think that, after all this time, she now has two simple letters after her name that will forever change the rest of her life: MD. It is both exciting and incredibly scary to think she will be responsible for the care of her patients starting on July 1. Saving lives, one day at a time baby…HA! She knows that it is only by God’s grace that she made it this far, and it is only by His tremendous power that she will be able to endure the exhausting hours and tremendous responsibility day-to-day.
If you are like this student, Match Day brought an assortment of emotion. It was so thrilling to open that letter and see your name “matched” into a program. But ultimately, opening that letter meant CHANGE was right around the corner. A change in job, change in responsibilities, change in location, change in friends, change in life. Change can be terrifying!
Thankfully, the Lord is faithful. God says, “I will give you EVERY PLACE where you set your foot…Have I not COMMANDED you? Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be TERRIFIED; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God WILL BE with you WHEREVER you go” (Joshua 1:3,9, NIV 1984).
Even though she trusts Him, her heart is still often filled with angst about this change. In times of anxiety, He always brings her back to these verses in Joshua. It says, “Have I not COMMANDED you?” He doesn’t give Joshua a choice. Rather, He promises to walk alongside Joshua, as He is about to begin the most TERRIFYING but most THRILLING ADVENTURE of his life.
Yet, why does she still often fear?
She moved into her new apartment over the weekend. She’s never lived this far away from home before – away from everyone and everything she knows and loves. She’s moved to a new place in which she, for once, knows NO ONE. As her family departed last night, tears filled their eyes. She will miss them dearly. Yet, God is her strength in weakness.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV 1984).
He refreshes her heart when she’s in need of FRESH REVELATION. And it is this fresh revelation that she longs for. After her family left and she was seemingly alone, God spoke softly and gave her the following passage.
Wow! How time flies! She graduated from medical school about a month ago after “matching” into a general surgery residency program. She feels a mix of emotions every time she thinks that, in just a few days, she will be a general surgery intern! It is both unbelievable and amazing to think that, after all this time, she now has two simple letters after her name that will forever change the rest of her life: MD. It is both exciting and incredibly scary to think she will be responsible for the care of her patients starting on July 1. Saving lives, one day at a time baby…HA! She knows that it is only by God’s grace that she made it this far, and it is only by His tremendous power that she will be able to endure the exhausting hours and tremendous responsibility day-to-day.
If you are like this student, Match Day brought an assortment of emotion. It was so thrilling to open that letter and see your name “matched” into a program. But ultimately, opening that letter meant CHANGE was right around the corner. A change in job, change in responsibilities, change in location, change in friends, change in life. Change can be terrifying!
Thankfully, the Lord is faithful. God says, “I will give you EVERY PLACE where you set your foot…Have I not COMMANDED you? Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be TERRIFIED; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God WILL BE with you WHEREVER you go” (Joshua 1:3,9, NIV 1984).
Even though she trusts Him, her heart is still often filled with angst about this change. In times of anxiety, He always brings her back to these verses in Joshua. It says, “Have I not COMMANDED you?” He doesn’t give Joshua a choice. Rather, He promises to walk alongside Joshua, as He is about to begin the most TERRIFYING but most THRILLING ADVENTURE of his life.
Yet, why does she still often fear?
She moved into her new apartment over the weekend. She’s never lived this far away from home before – away from everyone and everything she knows and loves. She’s moved to a new place in which she, for once, knows NO ONE. As her family departed last night, tears filled their eyes. She will miss them dearly. Yet, God is her strength in weakness.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV 1984).
He refreshes her heart when she’s in need of FRESH REVELATION. And it is this fresh revelation that she longs for. After her family left and she was seemingly alone, God spoke softly and gave her the following passage.
"The God who made the world and everything in it...gives all men LIFE and BREATH and everything else...and he determined the times set for them and the EXACT PLACES where they should LIVE...’For in him we LIVE and MOVE and have our being’" (Acts 17:24-28, NIV 1984).
Pray that this journal will bless your heart, and pray that we can grow in this time of grueling “scut work,” intense hours, unbelievable responsibilities and change. As times and season change, we can BANK on His promises:
Pray that this journal will bless your heart, and pray that we can grow in this time of grueling “scut work,” intense hours, unbelievable responsibilities and change. As times and season change, we can BANK on His promises:
1. God is completely SOVEREIGN. Psalm 103:19. He has everything in His control even when we can’t perceive it.
2. God is infinitely WISE. Romans 11:33-36. The Lord knows every side of the situation (inside and out) and every event (past, present and future).
3. God LOVES perfectly. 1 John 4:16-18; Ephesians 2:10. Without exception, He always chooses what is BEST for us, even if it is not easy.
(3 promises adapted from the iPhone App “Bible Verse of the Day.”)
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