There are 2 more important things I need to mention about my Ob/Gyn rotation.

The first is the first patient I ever had. Her initials were M.H. and I was on gynecology oncology. She had a big tumor taken out, and I held it in my hands. It was very heavy, several pounds. My attending gynecologist oncologist surgeon was gray-haired and seasoned, and he said it was the most difficult operation he had ever done. It was so difficult because of what we call adhesions, which is basically scar tissue. She had loads of adhesions because she previously had an abdominal surgery many years ago, where a large part of her bowel was removed and she now defecates through a hole in her abdomen into a bag. The surgeon said that his fingernail was bending trying to separate the adhesions. He also accidentally cut one of her ureters (and stitched it back together). After the operation, she kept on spiking fevers and we couldn't figure out why. Finally, we did a CT scan and saw a bowel perforation (and she was eating In N Out!). She was taken back into the OR, and when she came out this time, she was on a mechanical ventilator. I remember cleaning her saliva around the tube and happy to do it. When the ventilator was taken out, she cried to me about all the stress of these complications. When I explained to her about the adhesions, she responded that she knew it would be risky, and that's why she waited so long to get this operation. She was a great first patient to have.

The second thing I must mention is that I attended 2 funerals during Ob/Gyn within a few weeks of each other. They were for both of David's grandmothers. His maternal grandmother died the day before our wedding from an aortic dissection in her early 80's. His paternal grandmother had been dying for nearly 4 months after breaking her hip and ultimately died from pneumonia at age 74. One was sudden and very unexpected while the other had not truly been living for months. One had been excited and eager for my wedding, but wasn't able to attend. While the other attended, but wasn't really there. It was an interesting way to start a marriage, but never felt burdening. If anything, it felt strengthening. We got to say goodbye to both. I also got to say goodbye to my grandma right before medical school. These were my 3rd and 4th funerals in medical school. Sounds excessive when it's put that way - 4 funerals in 2 years of medical school. But I've surprisingly been able to handle it with the help of my wonderful partner. Between both David and me, we have one remaining grandparent - my maternal grandma in Canada. It is a traveling priority for David to meet her. Hopefully this May.