When I started this last course of chemo,back in October.I was asked if I would consider having a third year student follow me as a case history.She would attend appointments and stay whilst having treatment.
At first I thought no.(treatment is tough enough,without sitting for hours with a total stranger.)Then I thought it would be giving a little something back and agreed.
On our first apt. I met Emily! A bright,bubbly,pretty young lady.From Wigan,but training here in Cardiff.She was delightful.Emily attended every apt.with us,celebrated any good news with us and cried with us when we ve had bad news.
We ve talked about everything,her family, my family,her fiancé and forthcoming wedding plans.
When I finished treatment in May,we ve stayed in touch.She has been very busy studying,sitting exams and wedding planning.
Feeling down this week.New drugs causing sickness and insomnia.A letter arrived...an invitation to Emily and Scott’s wedding next month.We are delighted and certainly going,nausea or not!
We re meeting up next week with them to catch up before the Big Day.The decsision to have Emily follow us was the right one,not just because we ve been invited to their wedding, we ve made a lovely new friend who has supported us both through some tough times.Her smile makes us smile.We would tease her and say she drew the short straw when we were assigned to her. Lol She could have had a ‘ normal’ family to follow not us barking mad pair of grippers.Photos to follow of them and us sharing good times.We re so chuffed. XXX
Written by
Chickysha
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Great story. I've had 2 students and really recommend saying yes if you get asked. Hit it off particularly with the second..who turned out to have connections to a neighbour!
That's a beautiful and heart-warming story! It often moves me to see the interactions between patients, nurses, caretakers, and others at the hospital. I personally suffer with social anxiety, and I had to sort of "be strong" when accompanying my mom at the hospital, but I've gradually come out of my shell by interacting with the friendly nurses, doctors, and social workers, and I think it's helped me overall.
Emily sounds like a wonderful individual, and I wish her all the best in her profession, and marriage. I also wish you all the best in coping with the medication, and hoping the side effects ease.
How lovely I’ve met some great student doctors through this programme thanks to my GP. Maybe she thinks Im a good guinea pig lol. Hope you have a great time.
I heard that out of the last two who followed me, one has taken their final exams but is going to go into business management. He has a great manner and personality would make a fab doctor but he is so disillusioned by the NHS he isn’t going to put his doctorate to use.
What a lovely story! They don't do things like that in the US--at least where I am--I think all the worries over privacy laws but I think it would be a great thing to do! Thanks for sharing. oxox
In the UK, there's a fair amount of paperwork involved before you start and they'll all have had to have been risk assessed to the highest level because they're working with vulnerable people, so I'd be surprised if it doesn't exist in some shape or form within US medical training too....
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