New Medical Book

I've picked up a new book to read: My Stroke of Insight. Actually, it's been around since 2007 and in softcover for a year. It's a fascinating account of a neuroscientist's own experience of a rare form of stroke. I admit when I first saw her on TED, I sort of thought she was a quack as she talks like she's on some hallucinogenic towards the end. It sort of begs the question of whether such drugs affect similar left areas of the brain. I couldn't really see the fuss over her, and therefore, didn't try. My experience with strokes was limited to a one-time situation where I accompanied a neighbor to the ER for back pain. He had had a mild stroke several weeks before, and I admit I wasn't very empathetic to his confusion. I had assumed he had fully "recovered" having returned from the hospital.

But since doing the volunteer work and seeing patients who are recovering post-stroke, as well as knowing some more people who have had a stroke, I was drawn back to read Dr. Jill Taylor's book. And I'm glad I did. I had hoped to finish it before class starts tomorrow, (it's a quick read) but haven't had the time. I will hopefully finish it in the next day or two.

I highly recommend everyone to read it. It's not too technical and really amazing to read about the actual stroke in progress and her recovery process. At the end, she offers a list of things a stroke victim should assess, as well as a list of 40 things stroke victims need while recovering. Very useful information for those in health care. I remember reading a passage before her brain surgery to remove the clot that had formed, and she tried to keep awake to experience it all. It reminded me of when I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled out during high school. They put me under, and I was determined to observe the whole experience of going under. The last thing I remember before waking up was saying to everyone, "I see two of all of you".

The way she describes her experience (in the book and video), also seems reminiscent of how people describe near-death experiences. I wonder if a similar event, originating in the brain, happens just before death to give the impression of being "one with the universe" as Dr. Taylor describes it. Food for thought.

Update: There's a pretty good 4-part video (or audio, if you prefer) interview of Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor by Oprah on iTunes. It's a little less "LSD-like" and a good summary of her book and insight. Scroll down to about listing #104-112.

Volunteer Break

Today was my last day of ALL volunteer work until late August. I can't believe I've been doing this for the past 6 months straight! While I enjoyed the work and people I worked with, I won't miss the 6am weekend alarm. Now, I've got a short break that, in retrospect, is much needed. I'm someone who would rather plough through the difficult things before enjoying a break. Like when I was enlisted to mow the lawn at home, I would rather finish it all at once, rather than take a break and get a cold glass of water. However, I realize I may burn out this way. And though I have a break, it really isn't a true break: summer class session 1 starts in 2 days.

Working a full-time job plus 4-hr classes, 4 days a week, mandated as much studying time as possible. While excited, I realize these upcoming science classes are the real test of my abilities, perseverance, aptitude, organization, etc. English Comp I was my warm-up, but can I hack it in science classes? I have my doubts, but try to shove them away and not dwell on it. I need to believe it and not think anything less. Nonetheless, I'm uber anxious in anticipation. My Korean friend, who I wrote about earlier, once told me my nerves will settle after I know how the professor tests and what to expect. She said I'll find someone in the class who will naturally gravitate towards me in being a "study buddy". I think she's right. I noticed it even in my English Comp class. I naturally gravitated towards 2 particular students, and they, to me. If we had needed to study with each other, we'd have likely chosen each other.

So my last day of freedom is tomorrow. And I have to clean this apartment to declutter my mind and stay organized.

Best Jobs in America Chart

I came across this chart, listing the best jobs in America. Check out #2!

I also came across this online article about the Best/Worst Master's Degrees. Guess which one is mentioned first. 

English Comp Final Exam

I survived, barely. It was my last day of English Comp I class and as usual, I froze up and couldn't think. I have a real problem writing essays under pressure and with time constraints, but this time it was worse. It was two parts, and the first part was fine. But as usual, the essay part was a struggle for me. I tried to relax by taking deep breaths but that just made me panic and sweat more as all I could think of was the time wasted by doing so. If I didn't have carpal tunnel before today, I think I just developed it. My hand cramped badly most of the duration. And my neck and shoulders tightened up. I don't know why. It felt like I had no control, and I never did relax until I walked out the door. I *did* manage to finish, amazingly. However, I'm not very happy with the conclusion since it was written quickly. One other student remained when I left. In any case, I'm just happy to have it done!!

On a brighter note, I received solid A's on both my research paper and last essay. Let's hope today's final exam doesn't kill my good grade so far. If only I could control how nerve-wracking writing can be. I have no problem writing at home (although it's still a struggle), but I just cannot master the timed written essay!

This final essay exam made me question if I'm going to freeze and panic during my science exams. I'm reasoning I won't have this problem since it's a different kind of testing: either you know it or you don't. If there will be any panicking, it will be before the exam. BUT, hopefully this won't be the case. I tried to recall science exams in college years, but I couldn't remember them, nor how prepared I felt. Freshman year, I took 2 semesters of Chemistry (my most feared subject at the time) and didn't do too badly. So it reassures me that the capability to pass science exams still exists in me somewhere! :)

Speaking of science exams, I start AP I in one week. Eeps! Meanwhile, I'll enjoy my long holiday weekend and last week of freedom. :)  :(

Milestone 1

I've officially reached the 250 hr mark in patient care. Right on schedule! In fact, I'm a bit ahead as I have an additional 30+ hrs from New York Cares projects. Next milestone will be to have 500 hrs by end of this yr. Only 750 more to go... :/

Medical Images

So I was browsing the web for public domain images to make a desktop wallpaper for all you *3* blog followers. ;) In the process, I came across this cool site from the National Institutes of Health's Library of Medicine Web site. Lots of fun images, many of them public domain. There are scary prints of medical instruments used long ago. Suddenly you understand why people feared doctors and dentists, way back then.

There are cool posters from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. And several current images, like the one at left. Who knew cells could render so beautifully in a Miro'esque way! I'll doubt my drawings will look like this when I take Microbiology.

I spent hours browsing this site! On the most part, not many images would appeal as a desktop picture. But I did find a few—like this one! It's colorful and abstract, and not too nerdy? :) One of these days, I'll create a desktop wallpaper for you.

Cupcake Day

Tonight was my first Team Lead event with New York Cares. The hospital volunteer coordinator met me and we set up the Pediatrics Activity room with colorful table coverings and balloons. We then picked up the cupcakes and ice cream (after a bit of tracking down where they went) and I went to meet the volunteers. My NYCares Project Contact overbooked since this was the first time for the event, so there were 8 volunteers who signed up. 3 canceled today, and 1 didn't show. But we probably had just the right amount with the 5 of us. I think it went really well and all the kids and their parents appreciated the diversion from the hospital. So yay! Unfortunately, I have my classes starting, so it's not certain I can lead another one until August. There may be an opening in the first week of July, but with the holiday and only 5 days break, I may need the rest. In any case, it was a successful event!

So... a little side note. There were lots of things for the kids to do while they ate, like playing games, coloring, and—building with foam building blocks. Now that was interesting. The blocks were FOAM, but looked like real wood blocks. So I thought, until the towering structure one child made, toppled. And there was no sound. Now, this is in a hospital, so I understand. But it got me thinking of how this world has become so over-cautious. I wonder how many schools use foam building blocks these days. It saddens me a bit.

I grew up with real blocks. And probably worse toys that might give a bruise or poke someone. We had a toy bin with toy metal guns that looked real (ok, I was in the suburbs of CT, and this was a while ago). In the backyard, I played on a "jungle gym" made of different colored bars in various stages of rust. I don't know how many times I hung upside down and fell from one of those bars. I also climbed trees in the backyard and had a few tumbles down, hitting several branches on the way. Our backyard sloped downwards to a natural wetlands (we called it a swamp) with skunk cabbages and cattails. I used to play in those waters, looking for whatever creature might be in there. Often, I'd just see snakes slither by. Nothing too exciting. But I fondly remember a playhouse that my ingenious father had built for us near the vegetable garden. It consisted of two levels and you climbed a ladder to an open rooftop about 10 feet (or more?) high. At about 5 yrs old, one of my childhood friends was visiting and stepped on a rusty nail that pierced her sneaker and foot. There were no hysterics or threat of lawsuits that I remember. I'm sure she had had a tetanus shot, and if not, received one. That was it. My father, probably thinking this was a good time to update the playhouse (it had been old), tore it down and built another one that resembled our house with matching paint, a red floor inside, and a pitched roof. Real windows with shutters opened outwards, and stayed open with a latch. A small ladder led to a "sleeping loft" that fit one child, lying down. It was very simple, but amazing for a kid! Yes, it's a different time, but it's unfortunate it's come to this. A little rough and tumble can be good.

Last Essay

Last night, I handed in my last English Comp I essay. Next week's class is the two-part final exam: summarizing an essay and then writing an essay. Nice thing about English class is, it doesn't really require much (any?) preparation. This time, we weren't given a topic, so I can't even make a mental draft.

When I first took this class, I thought it a waste of time. I have a BA after all! (haha) In retrospect, I found it really helpful to learn the basics of writing well. I'm not sure I had ever been properly taught. Or, more likely, I just didn't pay attention/didn't try/didn't care. I still think I suck at it, but it makes one appreciate good writing after sweating bullets to grasp the right word or phrase and make it all sound coherent—something that happens to me even when talking!

Dr. Ken!

KNOCKED UP - Kuni Gone Wild outtake from Dr. Ken

What's It Gonna Be? from Mike O'Connell

I love this guy. He's hilarious. You probably know him from his cameos in movies like: Knocked Up, The Hangover, Pineapple Express, and Couples Retreat. He's actually a real doctor who practices (maybe not anymore) in California and started doing stand up comedy on the side. These are my two favorite clips. Enjoy!

Naughty Mnemonics

I'm hooked on mnemonics. A well-known mnemonic is used to memorize the 12 cranial nerves:

I-Olfactory nerve
II-Optic nerve
III-Oculomotor nerve
IV-Trochlear nerve
V-Trigeminal nerve
VI-Abducens nerve
VII-Facial nerve
VIII-Vestibulocochlear nerve/Auditory nerve
IX-Glossopharyngeal nerve
X-Vagus nerve
XI-Accessory nerve/Spinal accessory nerve 
XII-Hypoglossal nerve

The mnemonic? In fact, there are several ways to remember it. But the most common one is the dirty one: Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel a Virgin Girl's Vagina And Hymen. (or, at the end, Ah, Heaven)

Yeah, I wasn't so keen on that either. A bit creepy even. Obviously, it's a carryover from the days when medicine was a male-dominated field. So, talking to M, I asked if there weren't a female answer to it. Not that he knew of. Incredibly unfair. Searching around, I was surprised to find no equally dirty version for females. However, I found lots of G-rated ones. So, I decided it was due time to have a "female" version. And here's what I came up with: Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel a Virile Guy's Very Ample Hard-on. So, there!

PS: If you'd like to take a stab at creating your own fun mnemonic, feel free to add it in the comments section. :)

Scrubs Mnemonics

Med students have several mnemonics for all the things they have to memorize. My friend Rey was reminded of a "Scrubs" episode (a great show btw) where one of the actors sing a line to remember something about the circulatory system. With the help of "Wonder Nick", he tracked it down. :) In case you can't understand the line, here it is (Season 9, Episode 10):

This is how I remind me of blood cells and their jobs: lymphocytes and T cells, crushing cancer on every level

The whole episode is pretty funny.

Geeky Humor

A geeky post from a not-so-geeky source. For some reason, I always get mixed up if positive charge results from an extra or missing electron. This makes it pretty easy to remember now!

So, two electrons atoms are walking on Prospect Park West. One says to the other, "Oy vey, I just lost an electron back there." And the other says, "Are you sure?" And the first atom says, "Yeah, I'm positive."

Update: Thanks to my Swedish friend for pointing out it should be two atoms, not two electrons. Like I said... the source isn't so geeky. D'oh!
Update: Looks like someone tipped the site that "two electrons" should be "two atoms" The source is now updated.

All Kinds of Minds

I've meant to post this TED Talks video of the autistic and amazing Temple Grandin. She has pretty much redesigned the standards of the majority of slaughterhouses in the country and speaks on autism issues. It's so true how different ways of thinking and learning need to be recognized.

"We've got to think about all these different kinds of minds. And we've got to absolutely work with these kind of minds, because we absolutely are going to need these kind of people in the future"

No Sleep

I'm exhausted. This may become a regular occurrence once summer class starts. But this time, it was my own fault. A research paper was due today for English class and I procrastinated till yesterday. I really, really have a difficult time writing well. It's like having 50 bubbles of disparate ideas over my head, and I have no idea how to combine them to make a coherent paper. Hm! I just thought of a way to compensate my poor process: write out all those ideas, cut them in strips, and then put them in order, filling in along the way. Since I am thought-to-speech-challenged, I think seeing the ideas and then moving them visually might help me write an essay more logically. I tend to become overwhelmed by all the ideas I want to touch upon and end up rewriting over and over again, creating a mess of a paper whose first draft looks like a jumbled diagram with arrows. I'll try this with my next paper.

Anyways! Overall, I am satisfied with the paper, but then in class, he pulled a sentence from my conclusion to critique. Although I had read it over this morning, the unwieldy, rambling sentence jumped out at me right away. The professor commented, "This is the sentence you get when you're writing really late at night." Yes, I was guilty of that, but in fact, I had added to this sentence that morning, in an attempt to make it more sophisticated. Bad idea, I guess. Only 1 more paper to write, and then another class, and a final exam. Then the real fun and test of wills begin with A+P I (Anat. + Physio I).

Oh, and yes. I finally settled everything for the summer and fall! I am officially a "Transfer Student" and therefore, paying less per credit. Summer, I'm still a non-degree student, but at least I'm enrolled in classes I need.

Organic Design

Similar to my post about origami art inspiring mathematicians and scientists, this TEDTalks focuses on nature and science as inspiration for design. Sometimes, nature offers the best solutions for practical structures.