Therapy Garden

Therapy Garden 1
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Every Spring there is a photo contest between the different rehab departments at Fletcher Allen. Apparently the acute rehab team has won 3 times in the past 5 years. The idea for this year's picture is that we are a growing therapy garden. One of the PTAs who's been here for a while is the farmer with the pitch fork, the site manager is watering the back row, and our secretary is watering from the side. You can just barely make me out in the back. My clincal instructor is the one to the right of the "Support Staff" sign. A very fun group of colleagues!

I'll let you know if we win! The prize is $500!

Clincal Update

I am now only a couple of weeks away from the end of my clinical affiliation at Fletcher Allen Health Care, and then I'll be returning back to Boston for my last 2 and a half months of classes. I've started to like being at the hospital now that I'm picking up patients with more complex medical issues. I really like working as part of the medical team and I now feel comfortable talking with the nurses, doctors and social workers to help decide what is best for our patients. However, when patients have more complex diagnoses, it can be more emotionally draining. I have a patient in the ICU who slips into an irregular heart rhythm every time I get her sitting up, and another patient who has to have both legs amputated or he will most likely become septic and die. I find that I am exhausted at the end of the day, and I worry that in the morning I may find out that one of them didn't make it through the night. Although it seems rather bleak, but I really like what I am doing.

The next step will be interesting, and I wonder where it might take me. I have decided to stay in Boston for my year long and only put places on my list that I can get to via public transportation. I just really want one more year close to my friends before people start going their separate ways. I know Anna plans to possibly move to Seattle, and Nelly and Rob are moving there this summer. Matt is also thinking that he might not stick around much longer than a year, so I guess it would be fun to stick around another year and spent time with the people who mean a lot to me. So here is the list I submitted:

Spaulding Rehab Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Shaughnessey Kaplan, MGH, Newton-Wellesley , New England Rehab, and Brigham and Women's.

Hopefully everything will go well with the application and interview process. They should tell me what places I can apply to by early May, and then the interviews will happen in May and June. I'm excited to have a year where I will be working a regular schedule and be able to have time to spend with friends... and maybe I can even get a dog. :)

Hashing is #1 in Boston?

Ok, so it looks like a local station is ranking all the fun sports in Boston that involve drinking. The Boston Hash House Harriers are in the running... voting on the following site will increase our chances: Vote Now. I don't know when they have the results posted, but right now we are 4th place. I'd love to see us make #1!

Punk Rock Hares

Punk Rock Hares
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Matt, Anna, Mike and I set trail for the BH3 Rock N' Roll Marathon run. We decided to all dress up like punks, and Matt took it to the next level with his mohawk, which only lasted for a totally of 2 days. Over 120 people showed up for the event, and trail was close to 7 miles for those who ran the full thing. We ran past some nice Boston landmarks including the cute neighborhoods in the North End, the Charlestown Navy Yard, Beacon Hill and the State House, and the Boston Commons.

Luckily we ran on Saturday and had nice sunny weather... I guess the actual Boston marathon was a little rainier. I guess we lucked out, and I think a great time was had by all.

April Showers...

are supposed to bring May flowers, but in Vermont these showers are
6-16" of snow. I'm not a gardener, but I think that may impact the
tulips this season. I guess Boston is getting all this precipitation as rain, which must have made the Boston marathon today a bit miserable.

Four more weeks of snow, slush and rain and I'll be making my way back to Somerville.
Of course I am now starting to freak out about all the things I need to
get worked out before I return. I need to find a roommate for June 1st,
which is a little difficult when I can't be there to show anyone the
place or even to meet any potential roommate. I'm also freaking out
about picking my list for my year long internship. They recently sent
us all a spread sheet with the current placements including how much
each pays, whether they have insurance, and the patient populations
we'd get to see. I have to send in a final list by the end of this week, and I guess I am nervous about it. I will probably make a pro-con list, but I still don't know if I'll be able to narrow it down to only 6 choices.

Update on the Year Long Internship

So, it looks like the position at RIC in Chicago that was focused on patients with spinal cord injuries is no longer an option for my class. Since I do not have any interest in the Pediatric position still available there, it looks like I will not be living in Chicago any time soon.

Our clinical coordinator also just sent out all the information on each site, including amount of pay per hour, insurance available and paid days off. There is a lot to think about on this one. Unfortunately so of my top choices are pretty poor paying and one has no insurance coverage on top of that. I guess I really need to think about what is most important, and I need to think about this soon... I need to send in my list within the next week or so.

I guess the really important questions right now are: do I want to stay in Boston? would I be willing to buy a car? is money or experience more important to me? and what clinical skills do I hope to gain in this year? I'll be sure to figure this all out in the next 2 weeks, and will solicit advice from those close to me (consider yourselves warned). This year is the start of my new career and I really want to get off on the right foot.

Operation Bridesmaid 2008

Another 2008 Wedding
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

So, it looks like 2 of my best friends have recently got engaged and they both asked me to be in their weddings. Jocelyn got engaged earlier in March and asked me to be her maid of honor. I am so excited and am already thinking about what I need to do: bridal shower, bachelorette party, and helping her with the big day. It's kind of a big responsibility, and I think I am up for the challenge. She is getting married Sept. 2008 in Worchester, MA, so I will be out of school and requesting a few days off prior to starting my job so that I can be there for everything.

Jen (who is surrounded by flowers in this picture) got engaged a couple of weeks ago, and has set an estimated date of June/July 2008 for her big day. Jen is considering getting married at our highschool in CT, which would be beautiful, although I think her mom isn't too keen on the idea.

I'm happy for both of them and am excited to be a part of their weddings... and I get 2 new dresses that I might never wear again, but will look damn good in photographs wearing them both!

Erik's kids

Erik's kids
Originally uploaded by jessriggs.

Well, my first boyfriend has recently contacted me and updated me on his life, wife, and 2 kids in Delaware. I guess a lot has happened in 13 years, huh? It's definitely been interesting getting emails from someone I was close with so many years ago, but I'm just a tad weirded out that he already has two little ones at home. Of course, these are 2 of the cutest kids I've ever seen!