I've gotten this question often and I usually find it appropriate to only say, "it's good." How else can I answer this question without giving "too much information"? I've only been an intern for two months and yet I've already seen and dealt with stuff that....I wasn't expecting. Here are what my real answers would be if I were honest and open...
"What's Residency Like?"
Sad. I almost cried watching a mom weep during a rapid response when her son who has Down's syndrome was vomiting blood after getting his tonsils removed. I was overwhelmed watching the love of his mother, mourning what her son was going through and probably what he'd already been through...in a way, I felt she was like St. Mary looking on to her son, Christ, on the cross, and feeling helpless. Further, I felt sad that I didn't have it in me to comfort her and tell her he would be okay and that this happens sometimes as a complication of surgery. Why not? I was afraid I'd cry in front of her if I stayed around. Instead, I was annoyed that the chaplain didn't come to the rapid response...it's
their job to be at these codes to deal with the parents...
"What's Residency Like?"
Gratifying. I take care of lots of kids each day, most of them very sick, some of them not that sick. The majority are essentially back to their normal, happy, playful selves by the time I discharge them. I've even hugged a couple before them leaving. It's also gratifying to have a parents' trust and confidence in you, after all their child is the most precious thing to them.
"What's Residency Like?"
Exciting. I've taken care of kids with lots of different things and babies & kids respond to illnesses in interesting ways. Typhoid fever. Asthma. Diabetes ketoacidosis. Rare immunodeficiency syndromes. Bladder Extrophy. Meningitis. Herpes. Abnormal labs. And sometimes just a baby that doesn't want to eat.
"What's residency like?"
Frustrating. I can't stand some of the parents I meet. It's hard to not judge them with their facial tattoos or not wanting us to examine their meningitic kid because its 8 am. Or what about the parents that essentially are the reason their kid has an asthma exacerbation but aren't there in the hospital with them when they can't breathe? Or the parent who brings in a baby that is found to have fractures all over --child abuse? Or seeing the 16 year old neurologically devastated, ventilator-dependent kid who is that way because of abuse when he was a baby? And then on the flip side...I see saintly parents. Those who adopt kids that have no future. The mom that drives 2 hours each day to see her child in the hospital. The first time mom that is actually breastfeeding, even though its a hard job, because she knows its the best she can do for her child. The parents that will fly from overseas because they want to give their kids the best chance of a successful outcome.
"What's residency like?"
Humbling. I walk into the room of the child that is neurologically devestated...they can't talk, they don't feel much (we think), they can't interact with anyone to a meaningful degree, and I just have a hard time...are they even really alive alive? What does being alive mean? Alive? Living? I don't know the meaning of life with these kids. I am heart-broken for them. I wish they weren't here. Here where? The hospital? The world? I wish they would just die. But I can't say that. All life is valuable. Right? What do they think? Do they think? Do they want to die? What do they want? And then I think about how does God see them. I really wonder about that. "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." Even them, Lord? I don't know the answers to any of these questions but each time, I try to touch them as Christ would touch them. Respect them. Love them. Care for them. As humans and not just as bodies.
That's kind of what residency is like.
