Touching Cow Hearts: A family pastime

DISCLAIMER: if you are a bit squeamish......there are real cow parts at the end of this post!  The cows were not slaughtered for science, science just benefitted because people wanted beef.

My youngest sister Jayli sent me a text today while I was in Cardiology clinic.  It said,

"Guess what I opened a cow heart!  Just for you! And I touched it and didn't pass out!"  

I cut open a cow heart in PA school last year.  It was so amazing because they are so big and you can see so much detail!  I told her how PROUD I was of her, and commented on the size of the heart, to which I got this reply:

"I know this was huge and it had fat on it!"

For those of you who do not know my lil sister well, this was a huge feat for her.  She grosses out at the littlest things, even the super fake stuff on Grey's Anatomy....she usually closes her eyes!  I told her she would probably end up liking the gory stuff.   She said she was nervous, a little warm, and her throat was dry at first, but then she ended up with her fingers inside the cow heart.  

Aaaaaahhh, the moments..........the intimate conversations, bonding between sisters........about cow hearts!  It was even appropriate for my current clinical rotation: Cardiology!  My mom has done this too, she grew up on a dairy/cattle farm.  =0)

Seriously though, she stepped WAY out of her comfort zone today, and I am proud of her!  I used to have a strong vasovagal response and just about pass out when I was in the O.R. (yeah, I had to sit down so I didn't black out & fall on my face a few times), and now I don't even have to worry about it, I don't get lightheaded at all, even in a warm room.  The more you expose yourself to something, the easier it gets.  

So in honor of my sister's accomplishment today, I found a picture of my cow heart experience with my military buds in PA school, Matt & Dan.  I look like krap in this photo like my eyes are closed..........but this is for Jayli!  Love you babe!

  

          My cow heart had fat on it too!

I've become the Seatbelt Nazi!

Last week was the end of my trauma rotation.....the end of 12-14 hr days, and the end of 2 hrs of commuting.  Even though the commute made it a rough one, I really enjoyed the people I worked with & I learned a lot about the SICU and got to see some sweet surgeries!  The rotation ended with a bang! We had 4 level I or II traumas on my last day, and the motorcycle crash guy transferred to us at end of the day resulted in an ex-lap & spenectomy in the O.R., 4 chest tubes, a subarachnoid bolt (placed in his head), chest compressions, and ultimately a bad outcome....he didn't make it.  So here are the additions to my previous list to avoid the trauma service:

1.  Don't race bullet bikes (or any other motorcycles).

2.  Don't stab yourself in the abdomen when you're mad at your family.

3.  Do NOT let your Grandpa or any other elderly relatives/friends climb on ladders.

4.  Wear your seatbelt (I know, this is redundant, but this is a recurring theme).

If any of you happen to have any other suggestions to avoid massive trauma, feel free to add your comments!

This pic is after one night when I took off my shoes last week.  Guess this is what happens when you are exhausted & get dressed in the dark!   Actually, I grabbed those socks folded together......and my extremely helpful husband who did the laundry matched and folded them......in the light.....hmmmm.  I think they matched how I felt better this way anyway!  Thank you Mark, for all you do!

Pour some Sugar on me!

Hello New Orleans!  So the Utes made it to a Big BCS Bowl, and it tastes so sweet!  I am super excited about the Sugar Bowl on January 2nd!  I love it when the Mt. West Conf upsets the BCS scene......sorry, Alabama.  I am sad that college football season is coming to an end.  =0(  Maybe I will actually get my master's project done.  Well, I posted some pics that are a lil old......I was actually the "Holy War" for Halloween (cheesy, but I needed a quick costume for the church trunk-o-treat).  Plus, thanks to my generous and thoughtful cousins Brandie & Jeff, I was able to cheer for the Utes at their last game of the season vs BYU.  Those pics were taken with my camera phone so they are a little rough.  

The Holy War

GO UTES!