One last day with the kids

As excited as I am to be heading home, I will definitely miss my children at The Way Home.  It has been an adventure for sure - playing the roles of CPR certified lifeguard at the beach, Ukrainian cooking assistant, camp counselor, and primary care provider.  I learned a lot about medicine by watching my father practice medicine - it also helped that he spent his free time in Ukraine studying for his medical recertification.  We spent many evenings in the hostel discussing medical conditions and looking at images of different pathological conditions.  I also learned more about what the organization could use in terms of medical assistance.  My brainstorming trip went better than ever expected.  I loved patching up cuts and giving medical exams, but I especially loved playing with the kiddos!

My dad even got in on the playing action

On our last day volunteering, my dad and I bought toys and trinkets for the children at the kindergarden.  We wanted to leave a favorable impression in their minds of the primary care providers who came to give them medical exams!

Little girl picking out her new backpack

Cars or Spongebob?

Look at those smiles!

Kindergarden leader

So excited!

This little boy drew me a picture and gave it to me to take home

My main question now is not "if" I am coming back, but "when?"  I assume my time and resources would be better spent waiting until after I am a PA.  I know the skills I learn in graduate school will enable me to better serve the needs of the children of Odessa, but can I stay away from Ukraine that long?  I am already in touch with an organization called PAs for Global Health!  I cannot wait to see what services they offer and how I can learn from their international efforts.

In the meantime, I look forward to keeping everyone up to date on my application process! 

Where'd you go?

I've been working as much as possible in order to rack up those clinical hours for PA school applications, and of course studying Microbiology.  Sometimes I go to work from 7-3PM, then head almost immediately to my class from 4-7:30PM, work for my parents online and go to bed exhausted.  I have been keeping up and excelling in my class, so all in all life is good.

Big news - a coworker at my psych clinic told me that her woman's groups wants to support my efforts in Ukraine!  I was very touched by her offer, so I have a renewed vigor to sort out the nitty gritty details.  I have about 5 large boxes full of needles, vacutainers, and blood draw tubes - still not sure what to do about getting them to Ukraine.  I did call a contact today who I believe used to work at the Ukrainian embassy, so maybe he can shed some light onto the situation.  I contacted a few local nonprofits to see if they would take the donation, if I cannot feasibly take them to Ukraine.  

I am also somewhat in contact with someone at The Way Home - we have been been communicating via Facebook in Russian.  I love how my computer has an easy way to switch to international keyboards!  I definitely have some brushing up to do.

I found out today that the physician assistant application portal will be available April 17th, so I am excited to get all my information into the system and apply this summer!

I am currently working an overnight shift at my psych clinic.  Besides driving home at 7AM in a daze and trying to fall asleep when the sun is up, it's not bad.  I mean, I have done a lot of homework, wedding research and plan on spending about an hour or so reading up on fun places to visit while in Hong Kong.  Oh yea, and I am going to Hong Kong this Thursday with my fiance to visit my sister, her husband, and one of my best friends from college.  I cannot wait for that!

Here are a few photos I have compiled over the past month.

Just a small example of what I have lying around my apartment

Gram-positive streptococcus bacteria found after preparing a slide with cultures from my mouth in Micro lab

Trash and Cash - a gift from one of my psych patients

Sand volley ball did not end well for this friend's toenail

It will probably just fall off and grow back.  Not much I could have done besides suggest cleaning it and applying a bandaid to protect it from infection

Vaccines and Blood Drawing

The last couple weeks have been very busy for me.  I spent them studying for exams, preparing a bioethics presentation on prenatal genetic testing, and reviewing for my finals in genetics and physiology.    A couple weeks ago I contacted the person who had access to soon to be expiring vaccines, but unfortunately it looks like I will not be able to accept the generous donation.  Without a nonprofit tax ID code or a serious method of transporting the vaccines, I was not eligible to except them.  I was also worried that even if they did make it out to Ukraine, I would not know who would be receiving them nor would I be certain there was an adequate refrigerator to keep them viable - what with the frequent blackouts, I suppose we would even need a generator.  After I get this project off the ground I will definitely reach out to her again though!  

Since finals, I have made my way to California and have been spending time with my family and working in my parent's clinic.  I basically started drawing blood within ten minutes of walking into the clinic after coming straight from the airport!  Although I once thought of myself as a blood drawing prodigy, my delusions of grandeur were quickly shattered along with my perfect patient drawing track record.  Drawing on schizophrenics might seem challenging, but wait until you have to draw primary care patients - old, young, overweight, dehydrated...  You basically have to go in blind and start fishing - two techniques that I am not comfortable doing!  The medical assistants have been teaching me how to find difficult veins when you just can't see or feel them.  

My parents run a high volume clinic with a wide variety of patients for me to gain experience working with - that is why I am here!  I am proud to say that I have already drawn more patients in just two days than I have in my short career as a phlebotomist in Texas.   I am excited to continue to be challenged this week at the clinic.  I will continue to update y'all on my progress.    

Donations and Good News!

Well, so far things are coming along much better than I had anticipated.  I have a few contacts lined up that I need to call this week.  Some have experience with medical nonprofits, clinical outreach, grant writing, and one even worked at the Ukrainian consulate.  A relative of my finance also put me in touch with another contact who may have some flu vaccines that she would like to donate.  It is a good thing I have an International Air Transportation Association (IATA) certification to handle, process and ship bio-hazardous materials!  Shipping vaccines to Ukraine definitely require more research...  maybe this friend from the Ukrainian consulate will have insight into the legality of the task at hand.  When I have some spare time, I intend to read the WHO online booklet on shipping vaccines found here.

Speaking of vaccines, I should reacquaint myself with all the different vaccines offered through Vaccines for Children (VFC).  I bet the VFC regional representative that works with my dad's clinic may be able to help me figure out how to safely ship them so they stay within their temperature range.  I can't believe it has been 5 years since I worked for VFC and the Public Health Department in Richmond, CA!  Oh, how time flies.

First monetary donation:
I am excited to say that my parents are generously donating some money to my cause!  I plan to start fundraising after I get back this summer and/or have nonprofit status, but having some funds to start with is definitely helpful.  My dad is considering flying to Ukraine to spend a week with me too!  I am looking forward to having a doctor present, especially since that MD will be my dad.  We are going to figure it all out when I fly to California in a couple weeks.  My parents always have been my heroes and faithful supporters - big shout out to Mama and Papa for their generosity!

Recent thoughts:
I should read as much about the health situation in Ukraine as possible - new legislations, recent outbreaks, statistics, etc.  More research on the WHO website is in order.

Well, maybe after my Physiology and Genetics finals... one step at a time.