If there are people out there who feel the need to donate to the relief efforts of Haiti here is the link for Healing Hands for Haiti which is the organization that Zach and I have went on a mission with.
http://www.healinghandsforhaiti.org/
Zach has gone 4 times and his mother has gone over 7 with this group and they are phenomenal! They work with the handicapped people of Haiti and specifically with prosthetic patients. They recently branched out to include medical missions with community outreach clinics which is what our group did. They are amazing and we have heard that their headquarters and physical therapy center and the "compound" where the volunteers live is destroyed....
Any bit helps and this is a great organization!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Haiti
Wow....I'm sure everyone has seen the pictures and heard the terrible stories coming out of Haiti. I'm not sure how many people know that Zach and I went on a mission there in May of '08. Let me just start by saying that when we were there the country was in shambles with absolutely no infrastructure and tremendous poverty. The roads are dirt, the houses are built out of stones and clay and the government is corrupt. But everyday that we were out in the communities working the clinics, I saw resilient, grateful and kindhearted people who only wanted a better life for their children or grandchildren. It was heartbreaking and devastating to see and witness the poverty and lack of care that so many of these people were receiving....now they are being forced to deal with natures cruel fate....
This picture is at the Hotel Montana that was destroyed in the earthquake. The background is the city of Port-au-Prince.
Here is one of downtown Port-au-Prince as we were driving to a clinic. The people of Haiti would steal the tires off of cars and cut the tire/rubber up and then sell the rubber so that people could use it to start fires for cooking or heating water.
I found out from Zach's mom that the rehab center and the compound where we stayed has sustained significant damage and that the hotel we ate dinner at, Hotel Montana, is still reporting over 200 guests as missing. This country needs help immediately and will need help for many months, years to come. Healing Hands for Haiti, the Utah group, plans to return in October and I hope I can do everything in my power to be with them again. So many people are going to be donating time, money and resources in this immediate aftermath that I hope all is not forgotten in the months to come...because help is still going to be needed.
This picture is at the Hotel Montana that was destroyed in the earthquake. The background is the city of Port-au-Prince.
Here is one of downtown Port-au-Prince as we were driving to a clinic. The people of Haiti would steal the tires off of cars and cut the tire/rubber up and then sell the rubber so that people could use it to start fires for cooking or heating water.I found out from Zach's mom that the rehab center and the compound where we stayed has sustained significant damage and that the hotel we ate dinner at, Hotel Montana, is still reporting over 200 guests as missing. This country needs help immediately and will need help for many months, years to come. Healing Hands for Haiti, the Utah group, plans to return in October and I hope I can do everything in my power to be with them again. So many people are going to be donating time, money and resources in this immediate aftermath that I hope all is not forgotten in the months to come...because help is still going to be needed.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Back at It....
Well I finally started pilates again...I don't think I've talked about it on here but I took it years ago and was quite into it and then when I moved to St. Maarten, they didn't have pilates and so I haven't done it in almost 4 years! So tonight I decided it was time to get back into (that and I have to wear a wedding dress in 4 months!) It was great and I'm gonna be sore tomorrow but it was so worth it!
Also started my neurology rotation Monday....after tomorrow I will only have 10 weeks left until I am finished with school!!! This is monumental in many ways but mostly because I have been in some sort of school for the last 23 years!!!!!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
We were going to head back to Morgantown tomorrow to take a second look at West Virginia University but they are calling for bad weather and roads so we are nixing that trip for now. Zach had an interview yesterday at Maryland for Neurosurgery and he is in love! Loved the program, the residents, staff and faculty. If he matches there it would also mean we would stay in Baltimore for the next 7 years! Neurosurgery is where his heart is....he loves General Surgery as well but it's his dream to be a Neurosurgeon....I pray everyday that his dream is fulfilled!! We find out in March! (for those of you following this residency match process....if Zach stayed in Baltimore I would have to match at the hospital that I interviewed at here back in December).
I'm off to watch the BCS game....Roll Tide Roll (SEC loyalty)!
Also started my neurology rotation Monday....after tomorrow I will only have 10 weeks left until I am finished with school!!! This is monumental in many ways but mostly because I have been in some sort of school for the last 23 years!!!!!!!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
We were going to head back to Morgantown tomorrow to take a second look at West Virginia University but they are calling for bad weather and roads so we are nixing that trip for now. Zach had an interview yesterday at Maryland for Neurosurgery and he is in love! Loved the program, the residents, staff and faculty. If he matches there it would also mean we would stay in Baltimore for the next 7 years! Neurosurgery is where his heart is....he loves General Surgery as well but it's his dream to be a Neurosurgeon....I pray everyday that his dream is fulfilled!! We find out in March! (for those of you following this residency match process....if Zach stayed in Baltimore I would have to match at the hospital that I interviewed at here back in December).
I'm off to watch the BCS game....Roll Tide Roll (SEC loyalty)!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Year in Review
I've seen some other blogs do this year in review and I thought it was a good idea. That way in the future I can always remember what happened during 2009.
JANUARY: The first of the year brought the start of my surgery rotation. It was a fairly uneventful month...we watched the Ravens lose to the Steelers in the AFC championship game.
FEBRUARY: Another month of surgery to endure. However I gave Zach the best Valentines Day present. It is called supercar sensation and we flew down to Charlotte and he got to drive 3 top end sports cars for 4 hours around the back roads of Charlotte. We had a ton of fun and hope to do it again someday. We spent the night at the Ballentyne resort as part of the package. Zach also submitted his rank list for Neurosurgery and the wait began.
MARCH: Match day came and went...disappointment at not matching into Neurosurgery for Zach was followed by excitement that he did match into General Surgery at the University of Maryland...which meant he would stay in Baltimore with me! I finished up my surgery rotation and to celebrate that feat along with Zach matching we took a spur of the moment cruise to Mexico. It was 5 days of much needed sun and relaxation.
APRIL: On the 5th of this month my great friends Brit and Ry had their precious boy, Harper. He came early but was healthy and strong! All our close friends meet in NYC to celebrate his birth and a belated baby shower. At the end of this month Zach and I flew to Vegas for my cousins graduation and to hang out with my side of the family. We had a great time and didn't lose too much money! From their Zach and I drove to St. George, Utah to stay at his parents cabin and we hiked Zion's national park. (Oh and Zach graduated medical school this month!!!)
MAY: Zach and I spent the month of May in Utah. I did 4 weeks of a family practice rotation and Zach worked on restoring his brother's house. It was a really fun month getting to spend it with his family that we don't see often. We camped with his best friend and his family in Moab and hiked through Arches National park. We also celebrated Zach's 30th birthday with good friends!!
JUNE: This was most definitely the greatest month of the year! On the first of this month, I completed my board exam and we got engaged!!!!! It was amazing and wonderful and I still get excited thinking about that night. Zach bought us our pride and joy, Mosley and we have loved every minute of our time with our new pup! A couple days after the big engagement we flew to Charlotte to see my brother graduate high school and then headed off on an Alaskan cruise!!! The best part of all was that Kendra and Tobin were able to come back from Australia for the cruise! Beautiful and fabulous....I would highly recommend this to any cruise lover!
JULY: I celebrated my 27th birthday in NYC. I had moved there at the end of June to do my Pediatric and OB/Gyn rotation. I lived with Brit and Ryan and Harper and it was wonderful. My birthday was spent with great friends out in NYC including dinner and chocolate fondue! This was also the month that Zach started residency and his life was officially over.... (I kid, but not really :(
AUGUST: Still living in NYC with my surrogate family and starting OB...I finally figured out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life! It was a great realization and one I can't believe didn't dawn on me earlier....
SEPTEMBER: Wedding planning continues including dress shopping at Kleinfelds!!!! I found the dress of my dreams and also moved back to Baltimore. I was sad to leave my great friends but very grateful for their hospitality and also extremely happy to be back with Zach and Mos. I finished studying for the 2nd part of my boards and took those on the 24th. Zach and I also applied for residency at the beginning of the month.
OCTOBER: I started my Dermatology rotation and waited for emails to come in with interview requests. It was a fairly uneventful month....I did fly to Charleston for my brother's football game and to see him at The Citadel.
NOVEMBER: Zach had his transplant rotation so we didn't see a whole lot of each other but we did go to Morgantown, WV together for our 1st interview. It went extremely well and is still near the top of the list for potential places. Zach had to work for Thanksgiving so I flew to Charlotte and spent it with my mom and Steve and grandparents.
DECEMBER: The holiday season started with me in an ER rotation and Zach doing Neurosurgery. We got our Christmas tree up and then Mosley proceeded to eat 1/2 of the ornaments. We also both went on more interviews. Christmas was spent in Baltimore with each other. All of last week and New Years we were in Charlotte! It was a great trip and Mos was spoiled rotten by his grandparents!
I know that 2010 is going to bring changes and adventures and surprises and I can't wait....a wedding, finding out where we will be the next 5 years, a move, starting residency....and those are only the things I know about!!!!
JANUARY: The first of the year brought the start of my surgery rotation. It was a fairly uneventful month...we watched the Ravens lose to the Steelers in the AFC championship game.
FEBRUARY: Another month of surgery to endure. However I gave Zach the best Valentines Day present. It is called supercar sensation and we flew down to Charlotte and he got to drive 3 top end sports cars for 4 hours around the back roads of Charlotte. We had a ton of fun and hope to do it again someday. We spent the night at the Ballentyne resort as part of the package. Zach also submitted his rank list for Neurosurgery and the wait began.
MARCH: Match day came and went...disappointment at not matching into Neurosurgery for Zach was followed by excitement that he did match into General Surgery at the University of Maryland...which meant he would stay in Baltimore with me! I finished up my surgery rotation and to celebrate that feat along with Zach matching we took a spur of the moment cruise to Mexico. It was 5 days of much needed sun and relaxation.
APRIL: On the 5th of this month my great friends Brit and Ry had their precious boy, Harper. He came early but was healthy and strong! All our close friends meet in NYC to celebrate his birth and a belated baby shower. At the end of this month Zach and I flew to Vegas for my cousins graduation and to hang out with my side of the family. We had a great time and didn't lose too much money! From their Zach and I drove to St. George, Utah to stay at his parents cabin and we hiked Zion's national park. (Oh and Zach graduated medical school this month!!!)
MAY: Zach and I spent the month of May in Utah. I did 4 weeks of a family practice rotation and Zach worked on restoring his brother's house. It was a really fun month getting to spend it with his family that we don't see often. We camped with his best friend and his family in Moab and hiked through Arches National park. We also celebrated Zach's 30th birthday with good friends!!
JUNE: This was most definitely the greatest month of the year! On the first of this month, I completed my board exam and we got engaged!!!!! It was amazing and wonderful and I still get excited thinking about that night. Zach bought us our pride and joy, Mosley and we have loved every minute of our time with our new pup! A couple days after the big engagement we flew to Charlotte to see my brother graduate high school and then headed off on an Alaskan cruise!!! The best part of all was that Kendra and Tobin were able to come back from Australia for the cruise! Beautiful and fabulous....I would highly recommend this to any cruise lover!
JULY: I celebrated my 27th birthday in NYC. I had moved there at the end of June to do my Pediatric and OB/Gyn rotation. I lived with Brit and Ryan and Harper and it was wonderful. My birthday was spent with great friends out in NYC including dinner and chocolate fondue! This was also the month that Zach started residency and his life was officially over.... (I kid, but not really :(
AUGUST: Still living in NYC with my surrogate family and starting OB...I finally figured out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life! It was a great realization and one I can't believe didn't dawn on me earlier....
SEPTEMBER: Wedding planning continues including dress shopping at Kleinfelds!!!! I found the dress of my dreams and also moved back to Baltimore. I was sad to leave my great friends but very grateful for their hospitality and also extremely happy to be back with Zach and Mos. I finished studying for the 2nd part of my boards and took those on the 24th. Zach and I also applied for residency at the beginning of the month.
OCTOBER: I started my Dermatology rotation and waited for emails to come in with interview requests. It was a fairly uneventful month....I did fly to Charleston for my brother's football game and to see him at The Citadel.
NOVEMBER: Zach had his transplant rotation so we didn't see a whole lot of each other but we did go to Morgantown, WV together for our 1st interview. It went extremely well and is still near the top of the list for potential places. Zach had to work for Thanksgiving so I flew to Charlotte and spent it with my mom and Steve and grandparents.
DECEMBER: The holiday season started with me in an ER rotation and Zach doing Neurosurgery. We got our Christmas tree up and then Mosley proceeded to eat 1/2 of the ornaments. We also both went on more interviews. Christmas was spent in Baltimore with each other. All of last week and New Years we were in Charlotte! It was a great trip and Mos was spoiled rotten by his grandparents!
I know that 2010 is going to bring changes and adventures and surprises and I can't wait....a wedding, finding out where we will be the next 5 years, a move, starting residency....and those are only the things I know about!!!!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas festivities
Christmas Eve night I really wanted to go to midnight mass at the Catholic cathedral....this is the Basilica in Baltimore (the oldest catholic cathedral in the US). The service was beautiful and the music was amazing! Poor Zach had trouble given the late hour and that fact that he had been up for almost 24 hours! But we made it and both said that we were glad we went.
Before we even went to mass, Zach made a delicious Japanese dinner and we ate on our TV trays...awesome :) and classy!
Christmas day was spent opening presents in the morning, including Mos! We an then heading down to Zach's brothers for lunch and time with family. We spent the majority of the day putting together a puzzle at which we were unsuccessful :( We're going back down Sunday to try again!
Mos was one tired pup from all the festivities and promptly passed out on his bed when we got home with his new basketball tucked under his arm....
love it!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Ugh!
Obama and Congress are destroying my career before it even begins....awful, AWFUL time to be headed into the healthcare field!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Winter Storm
Well as many probably heard Baltimore got bombarded by snow this weekend! 22 inches fell here as recorded at the airport. I think it's the most ever, at one time, in this area. It started late Friday night and continued consistently for 24 hours. Saturday was a great day to stay inside with hot chocolate and movies...which is what Mosley did as poor Zach tried to get home from Connecticut. He finally made it on the train around midnight. Mos and I did go outside on top of our parking garage and played for about 30 minutes. Another couple brought their dog out and Mos had a great time running around in the snow! Unfortunately I am a horrible picture taker and don't have any of the snow :( A bonus of the storm was that I didn't have to go into the ER Saturday night and work that terrible shift of 5pm-3am! And now I only have 2 days left!
Zach is gone again tonight to Buffalo for an interview, so Mos and I are hanging out.
We've decided to go to midnight mass at the Basicalla in Baltimore Christmas Eve night. Growing up Catholic, it is my favorite service of the year and I'm super excited to go to the cathedral. It's supposed to be beautiful and I can't wait to hear the music! For those of you who are Catholic, we like to sit, stand AND kneel during the service. Well given that Zach is Mormon, they don't do the whole kneel thing, so when I asked him if he minded if we went to the Catholic service he said he didn't but asked if he could bring knee pads!
Zach is gone again tonight to Buffalo for an interview, so Mos and I are hanging out.
We've decided to go to midnight mass at the Basicalla in Baltimore Christmas Eve night. Growing up Catholic, it is my favorite service of the year and I'm super excited to go to the cathedral. It's supposed to be beautiful and I can't wait to hear the music! For those of you who are Catholic, we like to sit, stand AND kneel during the service. Well given that Zach is Mormon, they don't do the whole kneel thing, so when I asked him if he minded if we went to the Catholic service he said he didn't but asked if he could bring knee pads!
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