I need to eat more chocolate

I've had a pretty rough day today. For 2 days I've been having a ridiculous amount of heart palpitations. For some quick background I have had issues with my heart rate, rhythm... for a few years- well all of my life I just didn't know it. It hasn't been a big deal just something I take a pill to control and have regular checkups for. I've had horrible tests that stop my heart from beating (an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone) in addition to other tests. So today when my heart was going crazy I began to get pretty concerned and decided to call my cardiac electrophysiologist (ie. someone with crazy amounts of training and knowledge). He told me that I needed to go to the emergency department. Bummer... I hate being a patient in the ED.

I grudgingly went in and quickly made it clear that I am not an ideal patient. I resisted being placed in a regular room (I wanted to be in the fast track), wearing a gown and all that entailed, having blood drawn.... After 3 hours of sitting with cords all over my body and being stabbed by the best phlebotomist ever they found a potential source of my irregular heartbeat. Apparently my magnesium level is low. Other electrolytes were a little low likely due to too much exercise with water as my replacement fluid. The doctor (whom I know very well and see often at the gym) was questioning if I take performance enhancing drugs- seriously, for spinning class??? If I was I would want my money back.

So for now I am taking some magnesium pills to see if that resolves things. If not, it's back for more tests with my cardiologist and a change in heart medicine that I don't want to make. In the meantime I have to ease up with my workouts. That's a big bummer. The good news is that magnesium is found in chocolate, so tonight I began my new diet of eating more chocolate. It's a hard life but someone has to do it.

Convincting quote

If we believe that terrorists are beyond redemption we can rip out half of our New Testament because it was written by a converted terrorist who became an extremist for grace.
Shane Claiborne


I heard this quote during a message by Shane Claiborne and it really challenged my thinking. Sure we are fighting a war on terrorism (and I believe rightfully so) and it is easy to just view terrorists as enemies, but they are people Jesus loves and died for. It should have occurred to me years ago to pray for them and not just our safety from them, but it didn't so I'll begin that now.

It's Over!!!

16 cities, 69 formal interviews and I AM DONE!! I am exhausted from traveling, appearing enthusiastic, coming up with questions for interviewers, answering the question, "so why do you want to be a surgeon?", touring hospitals that all look the same, living out of a suitcase, renting cars, sleeping in hotel beds, spending too much money, being lost, wearing the same 2 suits (don't worry I had them cleaned along the way).... My rank list is nearly complete- with some expected modifications as I meet with surgeons in Indy.

I ended with a bang in Grand Rapids. I spent last night at Amber and Ryan Cox's home which was great (thanks again for your hospitality)! They are such a fun couple who just happen to be experiencing much of what is coming my way in a few months so it was extra encouraging to talk with them. Amber gave me a copy of the book "Cold Tangerines" and so I began reading it to unwind last night. As I pondered enduring another interview day I read a line that was just what I needed to hear, " The life you've been waiting for is happening all around you."

For the past few months I have truly been living a dream to be interviewing at some of the best surgical residencies in the country- meeting with surgeons who are true leaders in their fields. And they wanted to meet me and consider investing their life into training me to do what they do. Towards the end of these interviews I needed to be reminded that this is what I have been dreaming about for YEARS. I can truly say I have never been more excited about becoming a surgeon. God is good. I can't wait to see where I end up. Thursday March 20th is the big day.

Life Goals/Dreams

This is a work in progress, but here are some of my life goals. What do you think? Some of the section headings and a few ideas are thanks to Mark Batterson. Some goals I have already accomplished and some are in process. I'm dreaming big!

Family Goals

ü Marry a man committed to being obedient to wherever God calls us

ü Immerse our children in different cultures

ü Raise children to be bilingual

ü Have regular family devotions

ü Celebrate an anniversary on the Palace on Wheels

ü Ride a gondola in Venice with my husband

ü Ride camels to the pyramids and Sphinx as a family

ü Take an elephant ride as a family

ü Coach a sports team for any daughters I have

ü Celebrate an anniversary in an over-the-water bungalow in Tahiti

ü Disciple my daughters (if I have any)

ü Take my parents on a cruise in Norway

ü Kiss my husband at the top of the Eiffel Tower

ü Facilitate opportunities for my children to serve the underserved regularly

ü Help my children know their grandparents well

Travel and Experience Goals

ü Visit each of the seven continents

ü Trek the Himalayas with a sherpa

ü See the aurora borealis

ü Attend the Elephant Polo Tournament in Nepal

ü Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef

ü Hike rim to rim at the Grand Canyon (with a gun)

ü Stay at The Caves Resort in Jamaica

ü Go whitewater rafting

ü Visit the Holy Land

ü Attend the Olympics

ü Become fluent in a foreign language

ü Read the Qur’an

ü Meet a current President of the United States

ü See the Taj Mahal

ü Meet the leader of another country

ü Attend Wimbledon

ü Read the Bhagavad Gita

ü Learn to surf

ü Attempt to snowboard

ü Ski in the Alps

ü Cheer at a Colts game with a blue colt head

ü Go hunting

ü Cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge

ü Do a cycling tour in Europe

ü Sit in the Dead Sea

ü Stand on the Equator

ü Participate in a polar bear plunge

ü Attend a Broadway show

ü Golf at Pebble Beach

ü Ride horses on the beach

ü Visit Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul

ü Go on a safari in Masai Mara

ü Summit Mt. Kilimanjaro

ü Attempt fly fishing

Physical Goals

ü Complete a century ride

ü Complete a century ride after age 60

ü Compete in a half-ironman

ü Swim the Escape from Alcatraz

ü Compete in a triathlon after age 50

ü Swim 250 miles in one year

Influence Goals

ü Become a board-certified general surgeon

ü Complete a fellowship

ü Do research that leads to better treatment for patients

ü Get published in a high-impact journal

ü Present at a major national meeting

ü Train surgeons in my specialty

ü Build a hospital in a developing country

ü Treat patients on every continent

ü Speak to a congregation

ü Lead a team overseas on a medical relief trip

ü Be deployed with a disaster-relief team

ü Be a mentor

ü Spend time with high school and college students interested in medicine

ü Speak at the Global Missions Health Conference

Indexed

Thanks to Amber Cox I found this hilarious website called "Indexed". Jessica Hagy has a book coming out in February. These are some of my recent favorites.

Mautak in Mizoram

I was reading in Vanity Fair last month about this plague that happens every 48 years in Mizoram (a state in India). It got my attention both because I love India but also because I worked with some physicians from this state.

Every 48 years a certain species of bamboo blooms which causes the rat population to flourish to the extent that these rats eat all the crops. Last time this happened thousands died of starvation and a 20 year war was sparked due to the government's failure to respond. The bamboos are being to bloom now. Who knew this happened? What do they do with all the rats once they die? Hopefully the government is getting people ready with rat traps and incentives for killing the rats.

When the Game is Over it All Goes Back in the Box

I'm reading this book now by John Ortberg and came across an interesting story today. I think I've heard it before, but it is worth repeating.

A man is being tailgated by a woman who is in a hurry. He comes to an intersection, and when the light turns yellow, he hits the brakes. The woman behind him goes ballistic. She honks her horn at him; she yells her frustration in no uncertain terms; she rants and gestures.

While she is in mid-rant, someone taps on her window. She looks up and sees a policeman. He invites her out of her car and takes her to the station where she is searched and fingerpirnted and put in a cell. After a couple of hours, she is released, and the arresting officer gives her her personal effects, saying, "I'm very sorry for the mistake, ma'am. I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, using bad gestures and bad language. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do?' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' window sign, the Christian fish emblem on your trunk, and I naturally assumed you had stolen the car.