Betty Ford Center - Day 4

Sorry....I skipped Day 3! Too tired yesterday!!!

Today we had a really good lecture on drugs of abuse from a Physician Assistant here at the Betty Ford Center. We talked about symptoms.....how to counteract the effects with other drugs....withdrawal effects.....and overdose consequences. We discussed clues that might alert us to whether or not a patient is seeking drugs....and how to protect ourselves as physicians. The guy lecturing was very charismatic and funny! He quizzed our medical knowledge and it was a very interactive lecture. I learned a ton from him and hope he will be lecturing again tomorrow. Coincidentally, he was a recovering crack cocaine addict who had been sober for 16 years.

We also got to sit in on an AA meeting that was only meant for doctors. We had 5 physicians that had become addicted to either drugs or alcohol....and they shared their stories with us. That really opened my eyes to this horrible disease.

Tomorrow is my last day....and I am going to be sad to leave. I have completely changed my "stereotypical" view of a addict. Now I know there is NO typical view of an addict. Addiction affects all walks of life and knows no boundaries. The disease doesn't look like anything. It looks like everything.

Have a fabulous night!!! Until tomorrow....

Betty Ford Center - Day 2

Once again, I have just had an AWESOME day here at the Betty Ford Center.

This morning we got to sit in on a "Treatment Planning Update" (TPU). The purpose of the TPU is for all of the care-givers - including the doctor, nurse, therapist, case manager, counselor, personal trainer, nutritionist and spirituality counselor - to give updates on the management of the patient. For example, the spirituality counselor might get some information from the patient that might be useful for the counselor. It gives them all the chance to find out how the patient is doing in ALL aspects of their life.

This evening we had a lecture on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and then later got to attend an AA meeting. It was a wonderful experience. It is a chance for alcoholics to see that they aren't alone. Their stories aren't unique. Their stories won't surprise anyone. They have friends in the other members. And, by sharing their stories and trying to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety, they are inevitably helping themselves to maintain sobriety. Again, it was a wonderful experience.

I will keep you all updated again tomorrow!
Have a wonderful day!

Betty Ford Center - Day 1

Today was an amazing day!!!

I feel like I am not here as an observer....I am here as a participant. Although I am "Brooke the Medical Student," I am not here to give advice or judge people...I am here to get an inside-out view of addiction and use this experience to later help me in my career.

As I was writing my required journal entry this evening, I was posed with the question "What have you learned today?"

Today, I learned that alcohol and drug addiction is only a symptom of another underlying issue. Every story that was shared during small group was something I could see in myself. The emotions, the feelings, and the experiences were all ones that I had had myself. Although I don't turn to alcohol or drugs to cope, I am no different and no better than any of the patients in the Betty Ford Rehabilitation program.

Tomorrow we do it all over again. I expect that the patients will continue to open up a little more as they get to know and trust me. For as intense as today was, I expect that each of the next few days will be even more so. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this program and to be a part of the recovery of each of these women.

Have You Missed Me?

Well, well, well.....I'm BACK!!!

A lot has happened since my last blog. I finished my "book" portion of medical school (AKA the first two years) and I took my Step 1 COMLEX Board Exam. I got quite a few more rotations scheduled for next year and, best of all, I finally got a little break from studying!!!

In a previous blog, I wrote that I had been accepted to attend the Betty Ford Rehabilitation Center's Summer Institute for Medical Students in Palm Springs, California. Well, I'm here....and it is HOT! My friend, Abby (another DMU student who was accepted for the same week out here) and I couldn't believe that it was THAT hot! But even more than that, we couldn't believe how many people would actually CHOOSE to play golf in this weather!!!

We got in on Saturday, but since the program doesn't start until tomorrow, we decided to rent a car and drive to the coast. Even though MapQuest gave us 18 complex directions to follow, we found our way to Long Beach and had a wonderful time!!! Today we went to Laguna Beach....and after working our way into a gated community, we found both LC's and Kristen's houses. That was probably the highlight of my day. I hate to admit it, but watching 18 year old high school drama on MTV is really quite addicting!!!

Anyways, my program begins in the morning....so I will try to update my blog frequently while I am on this trip. Sorry for the leave of absence from this blog for a while....studying for my board exam actually became a priority!

You all have a wonderful evening!!! Until next time.....

Chi-Town

I just got back from Chicago for the weekend....and we had an AWESOME time!!! It was nice to get away for the weekend and not worry about school. (And I think having a weekend to look forward to actually helped motivate me for school....I did really well on my test last Friday!!!)

My boyfriend, Brandon, and I......plus Brandon's brother, Shane, and his girlfriend, Michelle, met up on Friday afternoon. B and S are HUGE Chicago Cubs fans....so being in Chicago was a real experience for them! Friday night we enjoyed dinner at the Grand Lux.......Saturday we went to the Sear's Tower and shopped on Michigan Avenue......Saturday night we went to a Stephen Kellogg concert (A really GREAT entertainer if he ever hits your town!!!).......and on Sunday we went to the Cubs game. It was an overall GREAT time!!!

In other news:

Check out my horoscope from today's Des Moines Register:

And I quote......"Your confidence goes far deeper than a smile - it's knowing you're the captain of your own ship. Whether your mind is on a pirate ship or a Harlequin romance novel, the distinguishing feature is pure excitement."

Maybe I should read my horoscope more often!!!

Good News!

I just got some good news that I wanted to share with my loyal fans...

At the beginning of March, I decided to apply for a Summer Institute for Medical Students at the Betty Ford Rehabilitation Center out in Palm Springs, California. It is a week long program that immerses medical students in the care and management of patients who have substance abuse problems.

We get to spend time with the patients, share in small group discussions with them, and learn how to deal with addiction. I have been really anxious waiting to hear back!

This morning, I received a call from California telling me I had been accepted into the program during the week of June 18!!!!! I am SO EXCITED about this opportunity!!! Not only do I get to spend time at the Betty Ford Center in Palm Springs, but they pay for my flight, hotel, and food! Plus, one of my good friends at school, Abby, was accepted for the same week!!!

Maybe I'll get to see Keith Urban! (I'm pretty sure he spent time there!)

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot......

Just a quick blog to say: We are having a GREAT TIME in Grand Cayman!!! We got in on Monday afternoon and have been on-the-go ever since! We have made 3 dives...and have seen 3 spotted drums (our favorite fish), 1 nurse shark, and TONS of other fish. We have not seen any turtles yet....which is surprising....but I am sure we will before the end of the week.

Tomorrow we are planning on going to Stingray City and we are really looking forward to that!!!

Everyone is getting tan...and the weather has been BEAUTIFUL!!! We hope everyone is doing well back in the States! I don't think any of us want to come back yet!

We're Outta Here!!!

It is spring break time again....and that means: no more school, no more books, and no more teacher's dirty looks!

My family and I - along with my boyfriend, Brandon, my sister's boyfriend, Ryan, and my other sister's friend, Emily - are heading to Grand Cayman for a week! We are really excited to be heading back there...it is our favorite island!

Our plans are: Scuba diving, "beaching it", tanning, snorkeling, scuba diving, scuba diving, and scuba diving. That's right - we LOVE diving!

Brandon, Ryan, and Emily have never been to Grand Cayman before, so we are really looking forward to showing them around. We're hoping to take them cliff diving at Pedro's castle, snorkeling at Eden Rock, and all over the island - including Hell!!! Everyone is VERY excited!

I will try to keep this updated while we are gone - but no guarantees!!! Who really wants to be blogging while staying on an island??? Not me!!!!

You all have a GREAT week!!!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

And guess who is STUCK INSIDE ALL DAY LONG?????

Last night...a FRIDAY NIGHT, after a LONG WEEK of school, with 2 tests and 8 required events......I should have been sitting on my couch relaxing. INSTEAD, I had to be at school from 5-9pm studying Physiology for the Boards.

Today....a BEAUTIFUL Saturday with the sun shining, birds chirping, and snow melting....I should be enjoying the weather (or TV and Panera).....and instead, I am STUCK INSIDE ALL DAY LONG (from 8am-5pm) studying Physiology for the Boards. Man oh man.....what a rotten deal this is! As physicians, aren't we supposed to understand the benefits of getting our daily dose of Vitamin D? (For you non-doctors.....Vitamin D comes mainly from the sun.)

Anyways.....please feel sorry for me. I have to do this all over again tomorrow....... And, now, instead of being able to enjoy my evenings, I am going to have to study for my NORMAL classes. Oh well...............I guess the Board exam is pretty important!!!

Life is Precious!!!

Take one look at this picture......you can see this driver crashed through the guardrail....as he or she was driving from the right side of the picture towards the left.....

Now.....you can see just how lucky this driver was!!!! Life is PRECIOUS!!!