Cutting and Healing

Its week 3 here at Logan and the exams are starting already. I took a Physio one on Wednesday and next week I have Micro, Embryo, and Patho to look forward to (I like all my classes ending with O's). Work is now in full force too. I forget what I write from time to time, so forgive me if I repeat myself. I work two jobs - one is for a chiropractor in Illinois and the other is as a Prosector here in the Anatomy Lab.

For the chiropractor I do all new patient exams. He doesn't adjust on the first visit, so I do the first visit instead. I take the patient's history, do 2 computerized scans (one of muscles and one of temperature) to examine the current state of the nervous system and I also take X-rays and develop them. Last week was my first official appointments. The first was ugly, but I got through it. I was stumbling all over my words and I screwed up the x-rays pretty badly. It is really hard to talk in Layman's terms without sounding like you are talking down to them. the second appointment went 100% better. I had practiced the x-rays a bit in between, so that was good. I really like meeting new people, so this is a great profession for that!

As a prosector I do a dissection before the actual lab so people see how it should be done. It's pretty cool, except it takes a long time. When I was actually in Anatomy we just were sort of brutal and sloppy and we didn't care if we broke a few blood vessels here or cut a nerve of two there, but now since my work is on display I have to do a good job. On saturday I spent 6 hours in the lab working and yesterday I was here for 4 1/2 (until 11pm!) Cadaver labs get creepy at night when you are the one who has to shut off the light! I must say, I did excellent work though. Who knew a person could hide THAT much fat behind their eyeball??!! Amazing!!

I also drove around the county yesterday and delivered cookies to my teens. They are in finals week and since our retreat last month there are a few that have stopped coming so I wanted to check on them. I know this sounds dumb, but I really felt as though God was calling me to do this. And actually I think I enjoyed it more than they did! I also got to see where they live and meet a few family members, so it was really great. We are shooting for a 100+ turnout for Tuesday's PB&J (Praise, Bible and Jam). Last tuesday we had 75 and that was mostly just 8th graders because all the high schoolers were studying for finals!

Tri 3 - Week 1

Here I am, back at school starting all over again. We are technically starting our 2nd academic year (of 5). Year round school is going to take a bit of getting used to. We have so much going on outside of class that I don't think I'll ever really be in the mood to study. We just did and arthritis walk yesterday with Logan. We accounted for about 1/2 of the 500 participants. And our students were working there as well - doing postural analysis and soft tissue work to help spread the message about what chiropractic really is. Someday that will be me... Actually next week that WILL be me! I get to start officially in my job as an intern for "Wellness One". Last week I got to learn how to take X-Rays and to develop them. I'm so psyched. My classmate and I were allowed to stay to work and lock up when we were finished, and we got so excited that we ended up running around the office looking at our beautiful X-Rays in the view box and attempting to diagnose them. It was great!

This Tri should be quite a bit different than last. We are almost done with our basic sciences and are now moving on to diagnosis type coursework. Also, we are getting more into the actual adjusting classes, so that is really exciting. I got to adjust a bunch over break and I can't wait to get my hands on all of you!! Just kidding - I promise it's 100% optional.

Speaking of "hands on experience"...I helped out with the Comp. boards yesterday. This is a comprehensive test for our tri 7 students that they need to pass before they can work in the clinic. I got the priveledge of being the "Logan Basic butt" for the day. I don't remember if I told you this before, but Logan basic is an adjusting technique that involves your sacrotuberous ligament - in layman's terms - the Dr. puts his/her thumb right next to your butt-hole. So...1/2 of the tri 7 class has been all up in my business. I did learn a lot about Basic that day. I got a 1 on 1 study session with the best practitioner in the field, so that was sweet, but let's just say we have a small portion of very lost tri 7's who REALLY shouldn't be heading to clinic just yet. Yikes! Now THAT is putting your ass on the line for your work!!