Pandemic Life Updates

 Hello...it's been a while:)

A lot has happened to me since I graduated from medical school so updates are in order:

August 2021-July 2022 - Post-grad internship during the pandemic. Aside from a very short period when we were allowed to volunteer on site, I was an e-ntern for almost the entire duration of internship. But what we lacked in patient interactions, we compensated in terms of lectures, case discussions and return demos. I used to envy some batchmates who only met for sessions a few hours in a day; but now that I am performing roles as a physician, I am grateful for God's grace to still maximize that opportunity. Now I am able to apply the knowledge I have learned and I can see how fortunate we are to have learned all that during internship.

July - October 2022 - very stressful months reviewing for the board exams in a short period without certainty if it will push through or will be postponed; but God's grace was more than sufficient. Initially, when it was still allowed, the FEU-NRMF Library became my daily cool spot as I was having difficulty focusing at home. I needed a quiet but new environment and I thank you Lord for the very accommodating library staff who opened the aircon even when I was reviewing alone in the area..huhu.. Sadly, it had to be closed when stricter community quarantine guidelines were imposed. During that period, I am especially grateful for my Virtual Library classmates - Hannah, Kirs, Ags, Marionne, Helen, and Aubrey as we became each other's support system during the review. We met, prayed and studied daily, kasama na din lahat ng iyak, rants and chismis...haha... I even revived my old twitter account to be one with Batch 2020  in our frustrations regarding the conduct of the exam. But encouraging and strengthening each other prevailed and now we are all full-fledged doctors. We may have taken different paths now but I don't want to forget that aside from my family, it was them who kept me sane during that very stressful season.

November 2022 - became a licensed physician still during the pandemic; took my oath, and was accepted for my first job as a physician

My thoughts: Until now, I feel like that chapter of my life has not formally closed yet, having failed to experience a face to face graduation and a proper oath taking (the internet signal was very bad at the end of the organizers so we were clueless about what was happening...haha). It felt like 'it just passed', rather than 'I finished!'; but I also understand the adjustments we had to make given the pandemic. So this is just me trying to deal with my unsettled feelings about it..haha

December 2022 - formally started working as a research trial physician. I'm still with the team at present, while also doing some QCProtektodo volunteer work on my free days. I am grateful for all that I've learned, the people I've met and worked with, and the opportunity to be productive in this season of rest and discernment on the next path to take, particularly which residency training to pursue. A memorable period when I really felt God's grace strengthening and protecting me daily was during the Omicron surge in January 2022. Many staff got sick and had to go on quarantine so we had to make up for their share in the work. Almost all the patients I've been in close contact with and recommended for swabbing turned out to be positive, but I didn't get it. I was tired, yes, but I told God I'd rather be working more, than resting at home because of COVID..huhu..Thank you Lord for the sustenance and extra layer of protection then and now. I just got my 2nd booster last Friday (perks of being a QCProtektodo volunteer) and I am grateful for your favor each day.

Ministry-wise, I have also been part our church's medical ministry and was able to join the team in a medical mission in Bulacan last April. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to share this gift/calling you have given me to be of service to others, and hopefully lead them to knowing You as well as Lord and Savior. Monday nights are for the weekly Doctors in Touch prayer meeting and I have also been learning much from them in the area of prayer. Aside from the girls I lead in our small group, I am also grateful for the opportunity to lead 2 The Significant Woman groups - one with my medschool friends and another with good friends from church, with the encouragement from Doc/Tita Elfie. She prayed for me when she challenged me to start a new TSW group and instead of just one, I now have two..haha.. I am also grateful for her and Doc Lem for being my first bosses as a medical doctor. They exhibit servant leadership at work and I admire Doc Elfie's meticulousness in assessing patients. I have also been learning from her management decisions which I am able to apply in my stint as a volunteer doctor at a nearby health center. When they first asked me to see patients for consult even though it was not part of our job description as vaccine screeners, I said yes out of compassion and andun na din naman ako. But as always, I can never outgive God. I can say that I am gaining more from the experience because not only am I able to practice my skill and put my knowledge to good use, but the experience has also been instrumental in helping me narrow my choices for residency training:)

But aside from all the career upates, there have also been recent developments in another aspect of my life...haha...will keep that in a separate draft for now until I'm ready to share..haha..in case anyone accidentally reaches this blog.

This is just me wanting to have something to look back to months and years from now to remind me of your faithfulness in my life Lord. I'm sorry if I did not take the surprises well initially..haha..I hope I'm doing better now. But in all things, just help me to walk your path, and lead me back when I lose my way. You are my anchor and my personal life mission remains - for my life to be a living worship to your name...in all things! 

P.S. I still haven't scheduled our date at the Prayer Mountain. One of these days I'll just do it. I'm sorry if I've been distracted as well. Help me clear my mind if I must Lord..haha..May I never be too busy to spend undistracted time with you:)