Residency

(photo taken by charlotte larson)

WIKIPEDIA (THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA) DEFINES RESIDENCY AS: a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician is a person who has received a medical degree and who practices medicine under the supervision of fully licensed physicians, usually in a hospital or clinic. The residency can be followed by a fellowship, during which the physician is trained in a sub-specialty. Successful completion of residency training is a requirement to practice medicine in many jurisdictions. Whereas medical school teaches physicians a broad range of medical knowledge, basic clinical skills, and limited experience practicing medicine, medical residency gives in-depth training within a specific branch of medicine.

(photo taken by charlotte larson)

RESIDENCY (REDEFINED BY THE WIFE OF A RESIDENT): a stage of graduate medical training that requires mental and physical stamina to endure the laborious hours spent outside of the home learning patient care, hospital policy, and refining one's specialty skills (i.e. surgical, internal medicine, obstetrics, etc.) A resident physician is a person who sacrifices leisure, rest, recreation, personal and family time in an effort to become a physician of character, skill, and expertise. The residency requires focus, perseverance, dedication and commitment to success in both the resident's training and patient outcome. The residency can be followed by a fellowship, taking one's family to places such as Cleveland, OH. Successful completion of residency training results in (Lord willing) a permanent position in a thriving hospital, allowing the MD to apply knowledge and passion acquired during fourteen years of training.

WE HAVE COME TO THE FINAL YEAR (AND REALLY MONTHS) OF JEFF'S TRAINING. AS HE HAS BEEN WORKING LONG HOURS LATELY, I HAVE HAD MANY QUIET NIGHTS TO REFLECT ON THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF RESIDENCY, HIS PROFESSION, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY. TO SAY THAT I AM PROUD OF MY HUSBAND IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THE FOCUS HE HAS COMMITTED TO HIS STUDIES AND TRAINING NOT ONLY IMPRESSES ME BUT HUMBLES ME. HE CONDUCTS HIMSELF IN A PROFESSIONAL, APPROACHABLE, RESPONSIBLE, AND TEACHABLE MANNER. HE WAKES EARLY AND ARRIVES HOME FATIGUED, BUT ALWAYS GREETS HIS FAMILY WITH A SMILE, EAGER TO PICK UP HIS CHILDREN. IF HIS DAY WAS FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY, STRESS, ANNOYING CIRCUMSTANCES OR DISAPPOINTMENT I WOULDN'T KNOW IT AS HE TRIES TO MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE THAT IS POSITIVE (OR AT LEAST NEUTRAL) SO THAT THE "BAGGAGE" OF HIS DAY SOMEHOW LIGHTENS ON THE RIDE HOME. HE IS COMMITTED TO GIVING OUR CHILDREN THEIR NIGHTLY BATHS, A TASK THAT MIGHT SEEM INSIGNIFICANT, BUT TO A WEARY MOTHER PROVIDES 20 MINUTES OF REST DURING A TIME OF DAY THAT IS OFTEN HECTIC. HE ROTATES BETWEEN READING MEDICAL JOURNALS TO FURTHER HIS UNDERSTANDING AND CHILDREN'S BOOK TO ENLIGHTEN OUR CHILDREN. HE TAKES THE TIME TO CHECK IN ON ME DAILY, AND OFTEN ASKS A NURSE TO CALL ME FROM THE OPERATING ROOM IF HE WILL BE ARRIVING LATER THAN  EXPECTED. HE HANDLES THE SIGNIFICANT AND MUNDANE TASKS OF LIFE WITH GRACE.

RESIDENCY IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK. IT IS MORE LIKE NAVIGATING YOUR WAY THROUGH A NEW CITY WITH THE OCCASIONAL WRONG TURN, SPEED BUMP AND FLAT TIRE. HOWEVER, DISCOVERING A NEW CITY ALSO PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FRESH EXPERIENCES, NEW PLACES TO DISCOVER, AND A CHANGE OF SCENERY. OUR TIME IN RESIDENCY HAS BEEN JUST THAT. I HAVE SEEN JEFF GROW AS A PHYSICIAN, FATHER AND HUSBAND. I HAVE SEEN THE LORD GROW ME IN WAYS AS I LEARNED TO BE MORE PATIENT, MORE RELIANT ON HIM, AND FIND FULFILLMENT IN MY ROLE AS MOTHER OF TWO AND WIFE TO A BUSY SURGEON. THERE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING DAYS, MOMENTS OF DISAPPOINTMENT, FAILED COMMUNICATION, AND TIMES OF LONELINESS. BUT, AS I REFLECT ON OUR TIME IN RESIDENCY IT WILL NOT BE THOSE MOMENTS THAT DEFINE OUR TIME. I WILL REMEMBER THIS TIME AS A FRUITFUL SEASON IN OUR LIVES. A SEASON THAT MADE US FIRST TIME HOME OWNERS IN A HOME WE LOVE , PARENTS TO TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, AND ALLOWED US TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY, PERSONALLY, AND IN OUR COMMITMENT AND LOVE. I PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS, GRACE AND LOVE. FOR WITHOUT IT, THE LONG DAYS OF RESIDENCY WOULD HAVE PROVEN TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

"What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made EVERYTHING beautiful in its time."

Ecclesiastes 3:9-11a