Today is Thanksgiving Day and I am very thankful to be in Dubuque, Iowa! I didn't think there was any way that I'd be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family this year but things at school fell into place nicely. Well... until yesterday.
Last night I received a phone call that one of my patients suddenly died. I feel absolutely terrible for the family. The first thing the owner said to me during the appointment a few days ago was, "Emily, do you want me to have a good Thanksgiving?" Now instead of having a good Thanksgiving, he is having the worst Thanksgiving ever. I feel like it's my fault, but honestly I don't think there was anything else we could have done. I guess that's the evil side of medicine. We are doctors. We are not God. We run tests, read results, diagnose, and treat... but sometimes it doesn't end the way we expected. I have been on the patient's side before. My dog was diagnosed with a back problem in June of '06 but died of hemangiosarcoma a few months later. I cannot blame her vet for not knowing what was truly going on. I knew they did not have a magic wand, even though that's what patients often want. No matter what, I feel terrible for the family. It makes me more thankful for spending the day with my family and my dogs. I have so much to be thankful for.
One of the things I am most thankful for this year is my future niece or nephew. Sadie and John will be having their first baby next May. Most people who know me know that I'm not a big fan of.... well... children... but I am very excited for Sadie and John!!! Maybe through their baby, I will learn a thing or two about kids and be more comfortable around them in the future.
Even though this week didn't start out the best with the board exam on Monday, I am hopeful that it went better than it seemed. I want to wish all my classmates good luck on their exam. We will be vets very soon!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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