Resident Doctors are Real Doctors

When I first read the article circulating online questioning whether resident doctors are real doctors, the first thing that came to my mind was that the person who wrote it must have had a really bad experience in the government hospital she was referring to.  I understand the frustration of having to wait for the doctor to arrive, knowing that a family member, a loved one or a friend is in need of medical attention.  But I do not see it as an excuse to call the resident who attended to your friend as a "fake doctor".  And what were your basis for saying that?  Just because he did not answer you in English makes him a fake doctor?  Don't you think It would be rather awkward for us to speak to our Filipino patients in English?  In government service, majority of the patients we see come from the low socioeconomic  groups, and I could not imagine how uncomfortable it must be for a patient to listen to his doctor speak to him in English rather than in his own dialect.

While a lot of my colleagues are outraged by this article, I on the other hand am saddened by the fact that the person who wrote it failed to get her information's straight.  I personally believe that journalists have the right to share their opinions based on FACTS, not on their own beliefs.  It seems to me that the author did not even bother to do her  research on what a resident doctor is, but chose to question the eligibility of resident doctors instead.  I also find it offensive for the author to claim that 90% or even 99% of patients going to the ER will die because nurses and doctors are not humane, according to her standards.  Again, this information shared by the author is not based on statistics, but only on her own assumptions.  This for me is irresponsible journalism at it's finest!

I feel strongly about the article, because I am a resident doctor myself.  I find it insensitive for the author to look down and belittle all doctors and nurses because of that experience she had in one of our government hospitals.  Assuming that she may have been disappointed with how the resident doctor handled her patient, it still does not give her the right to accuse him of being a fake doctor.  I will not deny the fact that there are some doctors who can be incompetent, but the article is just unfair for those medical practitioners or doctors who work hard to deliver quality health care to their patients.

I wonder what ever happened after the resident doctor arrived?  The author never mentioned it in her article.  I hope that the proper medical attention was given to the patient.  And to answer your question ma'am,YES, "resident" doctors are "real" and licensed doctors, duly certified by the Professional Regulation Commission.  

And with that I rest my case.

What Are You Made Of?

It is said that the human body is made up of different types of cells which is also known as the building blocks of life.  We have shape and structure because of the bones and muscle tissues in our body.  We have a heart that pumps blood into our body and a brain that helps us with movement, coordination and executive functioning of other systems in our body.

But aside from the anatomic and physiological factors,  what are you really made of?  What defines your humanity?  That is something worth thinking about, right?

The values and lessons passed on to us by our parents and other persons who have influenced us, life changing experiences, failures, triumphs, happiness and heartbreaks... these are just some things that may answer the question above.

So I dared to sit down and think about my own person, what am I made of?  If the power puff girls were made of sugar and spice, and everything nice, I guess I would say that the lessons I learned from life has helped me to be the person that I am right now.  The heartaches and broken promises, the struggles and the sacrifices played a vital role in making me a much stronger person.  The realities I had to face when I finally stepped out of my comfort zone helped me appreciate that there is more to discover in life and that there are endless possibilities out there waiting to be discovered.

The thought that there is joy in simple things, that love conquers all, that happiness is always a choice and that with God all things are possible... I am made up of these beliefs and they play a big part in my humanity.

Indeed, humans are fragile creatures, but I know that there is more to us than just broken dreams and broken promises...

Healing In Time

When you fall down and cut yourself, the wounds do not heal overnight.  It goes through stages of wound healing.  The first few days would be the most difficult because the wound is fresh and the pain would constantly remind you of how you got injured in the first place.  The next few days, the skin starts to repair itself by granulation tissue formation, neovascularization and eventually scar formation or remodeling. In a couple of weeks the wound would be completely healed, but the scar remains as a reminder of the wound that once was in it's place.

But unlike physiologic wound that follows the same healing process regardless of the wound severity, healing from pain caused by emotional or psychological trauma is a totally different story.  Healing usually takes time... a lot of time, but sadly for some healing does not come at all.

Pain is inevitable, that is true.  No one is free from pain.  It is part of our lives... pain is what makes us human.  We all have been victims of it one way or the other.  Pain from a broken heart, failed relationships, pain from loss of a loved one, betrayal, or pain from life's failures and disappointment.  So when a person gets hurt, when does healing come in?  I believe that healing starts when you learn to forgive the person who caused you pain and slowly learn to let go of all the painful memories you hold in your heart.

I personally have my own share of hurts and disappointments in my life.  The pain can be so overwhelming that at one point I was afraid I might never get over it.  But I would not allow myself to suffer for the mistake of others.  I owe it to myself to brush away the tears, pick myself up and move forward. 

To heal and recover from life's major injuries is a choice.  Of course it helps if you have a strong support system rallying behind you.  But even if you have a whole pep squad cheering you on, the only person that can help you is yourself.  Healing should begin within you.  Start with forgiveness.  Forgive those who have hurt you as well as forgive yourself for allowing them to hurt you.  Then comes acceptance.  Accept that the past can never be changed and that things happen for a reason.  Learn to let go.  Let go of the things you have no control of, and be hopeful that beautiful things are yet to come.

Even if your heart has been broken into a million pieces, you can always mend and put the pieces back together again.  It may take a while before you start feeling whole again.  Healing is a daily process of forgiveness, acceptance and letting go.  Let time heal the wounds and help you forget the painful memories of the past and allow yourself to look forward to a wonderful tomorrow.

 

A Work in Progress

I have been on hiatus from blogging for quite some now... 2 months and 1 week to be exact.  I just had so many things going on and it overwhelmed me to the point where each day passed by in a blur.

The past months I felt like I was walking on thin ice and any moment I could just fall deep down in cold waters and sink into oblivion.  There were days when I wanted to just crawl into a ball and cry myself to sleep.  But most days I carry on with my life trying to be okay because I had to be for the sake of my loved ones.

  I thank God for work because it kept my mind from all the things I did not want to think about.  But sometimes the painful memories finds itself slowly into consciousness and I battle with myself every time the hurt sets in.

You may see me with a smile on my face, but behind those smiles is a woman who has gone through her worst nightmares but managed to wake up from it and face a brand new day.  

Things are much better now.  Everything is where they are supposed to be.  I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to face each day with a happy heart.  Of course there are bad days but I never let it get the best of me.

I have learned that every day is a work in progress.  That we should learn to live each day as it comes and try not to worry about what happens next. I too am a work in progress. There are times when I fall into the sadness spell, but I guess that is okay as long as I know how to snap out of it before it eats me up whole.

In summary, I guess no matter what you have been through, no matter how difficult things are right now.  I promise you, things will be okay.  You will be okay.  Believe me I have been there, and I can say that I am more than okay.

The Past

Every person has a painful past.

No matter how strong you appear on the outside.  

Even if you put on a happy face...

I know that deep inside your heart 

There is a part that silently bleeds in pain.

Sometimes we choose to hide the pain behind our smile...

We choose to go on with our lives and pretend 

That somehow, someday that pain would go away...

But no matter how we try to hide, 

We can never run away from the painful memories...

So instead of trying to get away from the past, 

Sometimes it might be best to accept everything that happened..

To learn to live with the past and try to move on for the future...

To let go and free ourselves from thinking about what might have been...

To one day look back at the past without feeling the pain in your heart.

..

Realizations

A few weeks back I celebrated my birthday.  I am grateful to have been given another year to be with my family and friends.  At 36, I have lived a life of love and laughter, tears and pain, joys and sorrows... 

I have gone through so much in my life and I always thought that I would be ready for whatever it is would be coming my way, but I realized that you can never be ready for something unless it smacks you right in the face.  This brings me to certain realizations which I would want to share...

I have realized that indeed bad things can happen to good people, not because they deserve it but because there are certain people who are just too selfish to realize that their actions can lead to very painful situations in the future.

I have realized that life can really pull you down until you are down on your knees and their is nothing left for you to do but pray for the strength to stand up again.

I have realized that to "forgive and forget" is easier said than done and that no matter how you try, you can't separate one from the other.

I have realized that acceptance is an important factor in letting go.  Once we learn to accept the things that happened to us, no matter how painful they are, we can slowly learn to let go of the memories that haunt us along with the emotions that are linked to those memories...

I have realized that you should never blame yourself for what others do to you.  Do not hold yourself accountable for the action of others.

I have realized that you are allowed to feel sorry for yourself for a period of time; But don't drown yourself in tears.  Know when to say "enough with the drama" and carry on.

I have realized that healing is a process, and that it comes when we learn to forgive those who have wronged us.  Healing comes when we let go of the pain, free ourselves from hatred and try to move on with our lives.

I have realized that no matter what you are going through, there is always a reason to say that "life is still worth living"...

I have realized that life is always about options.  You can either choose to do wrong or do what is right.  You can either choose to be a saint or a sinner.  You can either stay or walk away.  You can either be miserable or do something great.  You can either love or hate.  You can either be happy or sad.  It is all up to you...

Once you have made that decision to do something, make sure to stand by whatever choices you have made in your life.  Because there would be no rewinds, no replays, no second chances.

Living my life one day at a time...

Don't Take Things Personally

I can't believe it has been almost two weeks since I started my pre-residency.  Time certainly does fly when you are enjoying what you do.

Everyday I spend in the ward or at the ER is a learning experience for me.  But if there is one important thing I learned this week, I guess that is to "not take things personally".

I am constantly surrounded by patients who are depressed, paranoid, manic, agitated and even hostile and violent ones.  I am at the receiving end of whatever thoughts and emotions they hold inside of them.  I have been cursed and shouted at.  I must admit that it scared me at first, but I knew that it was one of the many hazards of my workplace and that I should never let it affect me.

In reality, I guess one reason why a person often ends up being miserable is because he allows other peoples opinion to affect him.  He takes in whatever insults or negative emotions being thrown at him and eventually consumes him in the end.  But if we all learn to be immune to the opinion of others, more so if the intention is to put us down, and not take everything being said against us personally, then the burden lies on the other person and not to us.

So try not to take things personally, as what Don Miguel Ruiz said, Nothing others people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.

Reality Check: We Can't Please Everybody...

Let me just say, that at last I finished my blog challenge!  It took me almost a 100 days to finish a 30-day blog challenge, how embarrassing!  But at least I made it until the last day so I guess that is an accomplishment in itself.

As much as I want to update my blog on a daily basis, reality is that I can't because of the many obligations that I have.  But I will do my best to post something each week. :)

Well, this was a week of realization of sorts.  I have realized that sometimes opportunities do come back and knock on your door for the second time.  Well it is really up to you if you want to give it another shot or let it pass, again!  But if you are wiser, I'd say better grab on it and never let go.  Take the risk, because it might be the last time that it would ever come your way.

Another realization is that no matter how we try to do good, or try to do what we feel is right, there will always be people who would be on the other side of the fence.  That is pretty normal of course, because as the old saying goes, "we can't please everyone".  But sometimes it still is hard to believe that these people do exist.  I guess we just have to live with the reality that no matter what we do, good or bad, criticisms would always just be around the corner.

So to sum it all up, I would say, do whatever you think is right for you.  Live your life according to what you know would make you happy, the people who truly loves you would be happy for you no matter what.

Just keeping it real...

Day 9: Write about one of your biggest accomplishments in life.

Passing the Physician's Licensure Examination is one of my biggest accomplishments in life.  Graduating from med school and seeing the title M.D. attached after your name is an honor in itself, but to have survived the board exams is something else.  As much as I am grateful to have passed the boards, honestly it is a phase in my life I don't want to go back to.  Imagine studying for 12 subjects and taking the exams for 2 consecutive weekends.  On my part, I would say prayers and luck were a big factor.

I am a doctor by profession, but currently I am unable to practice for personal reasons.  Although I am working in an area where my medical expertise is required, it's different compared to when you are in an actual hospital setting.  But whether I am working in an office or just being a plain house wife, in my heart I am and will always be a  doctor.

With my proud father, during my oath taking at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug

Day 6: Would you rather be Rich or Healthy?

I thought that this question was going to be an easy one, but I found myself staring at my keyboard for at least a minute before I actually got to start typing...

Who doesn't want to be rich?  There are so many things that you can do if you had the money, right?  You can travel, go shopping, or buy whatever stuff you like. If you were rich and would want to share your blessings, you can donate to charitable institutions, send kids to school, or even have your own charity to help the less fortunate.

I would be a hypocrite if I say I don't want to be rich.  But between being rich and being healthy, I choose to be healthy.  Money can buy you anything, except for good health.  But being healthy is a wealth in itself.  As long as I am healthy, I would be able to enjoy my life with my loved ones, accomplish things, do whatever it is that I want to do and live a full and rich life. ♥

Hello September!

September officially marks the start of the "Ber" months, which means Christmas is just around the corner.  I am excited about the holiday season coming up, but September also gives me enough reasons to be as ecstatic because of so many things to look forward to.

First on the list is that we are moving to a bigger office!  I love the old office because it had a cozy feel into it, but with the company expanding it's time to move to a bigger location to accommodate all the new amazing people joining the team.  Another thing is that our CEO would be visiting us and there have been plans of a company outing at a fancy resort once he is here, I can't wait!

This month, I am also very much excited to meet up with good friends I have not seen for a while.  My friends from my old workplace and I are planning on an "Army Navy" date, I already marked it on my calendar and that would be on the 15th.  My "soul friend" Mela and I are also planning to meet and chat on a weekend that would work for us both, we'll figure out the date but definitely pushing through.  My best friend (Sandee) is visiting the Philippines on the 6th, too bad I won't be able to meet up with her.  Another friend (Anne) who was my Intern at Makati Medical Center during my medical clerkship is visiting Cebu with her husband to attend a conference, and hopefully once schedule permits we're planning to meet over coffee.  And September 17th is the birthday of a dear friend, Happy Birthday Apple!! 

September has me looking forward to so many wonderful and exciting events, and I'm grateful that things are off to a good start.   I am praying that this month will also be good to you as well.  Be positive!

PS:  I am also looking forward to 2 new pair of Flipelas I ordered from my entrepreneur friend Cocaine. Yipee!

People I Want To Be With

Do you know the people in your life that you think is worth keeping?  We meet so many new friends or acquaintances as we go through life, but sadly not everyone is a keeper.  I don't want to sound harsh or cruel, but that there are certain people that I try to avoid, simply because being around them has a negative effect on me.  

I am sharing my list of "people I want to be with":

I want to be with people who appreciates their life and lives it.  

I want to be around people I could laugh with over silly things. 

I want to be around people who would offer a shoulder for me  to cry on when I need one. 

I want to be with people who agrees to disagree with me sometimes. 

I want to be with people who would be honest enough to tell me if I look fat in the dress I am wearing.

I want to be around people who knows what they want and fights for it.

I want to be around people who accepts me as I am and not change me into something I am not.

The reason I came up with the list of the "people I want to be around with" is not because I am still searching for them, but because I am blessed to already have those "people" in my life that are worth keeping.  If you think that there are people in your life that are bringing you down or turning you into something you're not, try talking to them and tell them how you feel.  If they turn against you, then try to let them go, trust me, you don't need people like them in your life.  

We should surround ourselves with people who would bring out the best in us, people who would inspire us to do what is right, people who would motivate and encourage us to be better each day. These are the people worth keeping.

Changing Covers

Since Facebook launched "Timeline" I have been getting mixed reactions from my friends who use this social networking site.  It's interesting how you can trace back how you started using FB because your profile would actually give you a "timeline" of when you joined the site, as well as events in your life.  

For those changing their status, it would mark the day you went from "single" to "in a relationship".  It's also allowing us to document our educational history and work history.  So for those getting in and out of jobs, I suggest just don't update your work profile because potential employers who might chance upon your account might wonder why you changed jobs 4 times in one year! I know someone I'm just not telling who, lol!  Others find it confusing and cluttered.  There are those who find it just OK.

Personally, I didn't have any objections to Facebook re-inventing their look.  They may say that it's a way of making FB more personal because you can share your life story, but I think it's more of a marketing strategy because with timeline they have more spaces to place ads and commercials. If there is one thing I enjoy about the new look is because I could customize my Facebook cover from time to time. It brings out the creative side in me I guess.  Just recently I created a new cover and I am really happy with it.  It has buttons of social media sites that I use, customized my photo to have that Polaroid effect and added a line that pretty much sums up what I believe in, "Live simply, Love Fully".

 I love FB because it keeps me connected with my family and friends, and somehow catch up on what's going on with their lives.  But I guess we have to remember that no amount of status posts, shout outs, likes or comments can compare to really reaching out to those we love and spending meaningful moments with them.  It's good to post happy thoughts and share moments captured on film, but remember never to miss out on the opportunity to let others know how special they are. :)