Joy to the World! (Life Update) As we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ, the best gift that has ever been given, I reflect on the countless gifts I have received over the last 18 months. Ive been meaning to write something to update everyone on my recovery progress and life in general, but things have been changing so often I couldnt quite keep up. So in order to not write a 10 page update. Ill give you all some bullet points to highlight the last few months. I thank God for everything he has continued to do in my life and look forward to what blessings 2015 will hold. - I had my baclofen pump surgery in November and have continued with therapy/personal training in order to get stronger in hopes of eventually being able to stand and walk without an assist devices. - I graduate in May from Notre Dame with my Master of Science in Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship. The opportunity to pursue this degree has not only exposed me to business/entrepreneurship skills I wouldnt have gotten otherwise, but it has also served as a way to get up and out of the house for something other than therapy. Having class/assignments/obligations has allowed me to discover what I can and cant do out in the real world on my own. Things may take a little longer to get done nowadays, but doesnt mean they cant BE done. - In light of my last statement, I realized I needed a way to get around faster than I could walk ( especially in inclement weather) but using a wheelchair would just result in arriving at meetings with a dirty suit and tired from the work. So I got a scooter for the longer distances around campus. The goal was to provide more independence, but that wasnt fully achieved until I traded in my car (as hard as that was for those of you who knew Candy) and purchased an SUV that could accommodate all of my assist devices. So I now have an automatic lift arm in the rear of my new car that allows me (and my scooter)to get in and out of places that I previously wouldnt have gone to given the distance I would be required to walk. The day I arrived to finally get the car after all of the modifications had been made, I ended up driving away with my new car, and TWO scooters in the trunk. Someone had donated a more traditional mobility scooter to them because they thought the battery was dead, but it turns out it just needed to be taken out and charged. So once they recharged it, they GAVE it to me because they knew I was in the market for another scooter that was more stable than my current one.... Why do I need a more stable scooter you may ask... - Because as of January 10th I will officially be returning to work as a resident in Memorial Hospitals Family Medicine Residency Program here in South Bend. This program has been kind enough to allow me to join them on a part time basis until I finish my masters, at which point I will continue as a full time resident. This allows me to return to medicine, re-learn how to take care of patients since I have been out of medicine itself for 18 months and primary care for even longer. At the conclusion of this residency I will be able to evaluate where my recovery is and determine if surgery is in fact something I can return to. If it is not, I will be a board certified physician in family medicine and can sub specialize in that field, or chose to pursue something different. Either way, it is a blessing and an honor to have the chance to train here in south bend at a great program ( that also happens to be where both of my parents work!) - I have been invited to speak at Notre Dame courses, UofM Med School Classes, elementary schools, after school programs for disadvantaged youth, and other events and continue to be humbled by the fact that people feel as though I have something valuable to share with them. The entire time, I remind them that I am no one to be in awe of, rather its the work of Gods hand in my life that has made all of these things possible. I had every intention of making this brief, but when I think about how God has blessed me this year, its impossible to sum that up concisely. I thank all of you who have also been a source of support and encouragement through this journey. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year to you and all of your loved ones. Make sure to take the time to reflect on all of the blessings you have also been given in the past year. Our God is an Awesome God!
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:56:58 +0000
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