- November: 6 hours
- Fall Semester Cumulative: 19.50 hours.
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| Figure 1. Giving Hope Food Bank. 6 hours |
In Figure 1, I volunteered at the Giving Hope Food Bank in the Westbank before leaving town for a break. Please don't let the smile fool you; I was exhausted leaving that place. I have NEVER worked so hard in my life. It took a lot of effort getting frozen chicken thighs to break apart! While it was the most physically exhausting experience I have ever had in the New Orleans area, hearing the stories of the workers and the recipients of the groceries truly touched my heart. So many older adults are forced to travel over 10 miles just for free and nutritious food items. One older man was discharged from the hospital the following night and drove 25 minutes from home to the food bank. It was a friendly reminder to be grateful for the small and big things. I am thankful for the ability to move my body freely and the will to buy whatever I want at the grocery store. Privilege comes in all forms, and I will never forget my time at Giving Hope.
Academically, November felt a lot like veni, vidi, vici.
This past month, we spent plenty of time in the upper and lower chambers of the body. I learned so much about the importance of co-morbidities and their treatments beyond ICD codes. We dove right into treating arrhythmias, CHF, asthma, UTI, BPH, and ED, with my favorite being the treatment of BPH and ED.
I look forward to finishing final exams and doing surgery shadowing in December.
Ultimately, I depended heavily on my friends this month to navigate life in New Orleans. I am very grateful this holiday season for the support of my family and friends turned family. I plan to spend much of the next few days off catching up on laughs with my village over turkey, ham and a side of studying.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. ☺
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