Deep breath: The next chapter

Holly: It's the deep breath before the plunge. -Gandalf, "Return of the King"

It's very fitting for me that the first episode of this newest season of Doctor Who is titled "Deep Breath." This, coupled with Gandalf's words and the words of those who have always had my back and will continue to do so, resonated with me as I hung up the phone this morning.

Today, another chapter in my life story began being written.

This morning I was offered an Americorps VISTA position, in conjunction with Berea College and an organization called Grow Appalachia.  I interviewed for this position on Tuesday, after taking the day off from work so I could gain my bearings and dwell on just what I could be getting myself into.  And today, I suppose that the Grow Appalachia team decided I can cut it.  And I know I can.  

I've had over a week to think about all of this, from the time I initially applied for the position until Tuesday, and even from after my interview on Tuesday until today.  If you know me, you know I've tried to get my foot in the door at the college for quite some time now, but every opportunity I applied for never even got an interview, just a solid rejection after months of waiting.  It was very frustrating, because I believed that God was calling me there.  But this opportunity was different.  Within an hour after submitting my application materials I was called for an interview (I'm really not exaggerating on that, either).  I had my interview on Tuesday and was told I would hear something within a week or two, the following Monday at the earliest; I got the offer today.  I know it doesn't make sense, but it just feels....right.  It's not going to come without some sacrifices, though; as a VISTA I'll be making roughly half of what I make now as a lab coordinator.  In addition to that, it's a 12-month commitment, meaning afterwards, there could be another open door with the organization, something at the college, etc...or I could be back at square one.  

But that's something I've learned while walking with God and living in this world we live in: You can't plan ahead if you're trying to follow God's will.  As a Christ-follower, I believe that God is sovereign, and He calls us to do various things, at any time, without warning, because He is God and He is in control.  As a Christ-follower, I do not live for myself; I live for God.  Where God goes, I follow in obedience and TRUST that He will provide for our needs.  Because He already has. And I'll let Kelly share that bit with you all.  

So that's where I am right now.  These next few weeks are going to be a bit of a whirlwind as I transition out of UK and all the comforts thereto and into the trenches of Americorps and service and really living like the least of these.  

Kelly: My thoughts will continue...after I eat dinner. 

Anyway, now that I'm finished, I will continue. I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive at first, considering this will result in us having a drastic cut in our bank of income. And our Europe trip is now postponed until next fall, but these are sacrifices we were both willing to make. But to be fair, AmeriCorps is a really excellent organization, as is PeaceCorps, as a very dear friend is about 6 months into a 2 year commitment in Thailand. But as we were embarking on our almost daily evening walk, I found myself thinking about my last summer/year in college. I spent my last summer as a student working minimum wage as a facilities assistant...ok...I was a janitor, but hey, it was a good job. In my opinion its something everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. ANYWAY, but in my last year of school, I was working 15 hours a week making $5.65 an hour, and most of the time due to classes and clinicals, I wasn't even getting in 15 hours. I did the math, so that's...roughly $339 a month. And we were living off campus and had to pay rent, utilities, my own cell phone and the sort. Holly had just finished her first job at UK in November and soon after started working in Old Navy; that was her only job from December until I graduated. Then she got another job as a temp in UK's Department of Pathology. Between those two jobs, she was only making about $500 a month. Sometimes more if she picked up extra at Old Navy. Then, when I graduated, I didn't even have a job until August. So from the middle of May to the beginning of August, we were living only on Holly's earnings. And while I was in school, the two of us were living on less than $1000 a month. We were scared, to be honest. We struggled many times to make ends meet, but we got by. Thanks be to God I had food stamps. We prayed that God would meet our needs and bless us with what we had. And He did. Today He still continues to do so. 

So why am I telling you readers all of this? Number one, it's reality. It was reality for us for a long time. But it was possible; God brought us through that time. Number two, God is faithful! He is gracious to those who pursue His best interests. Holly wanted to find something in her field at the time, and I was following God's calling by finishing nursing school. However, that faithfulness doesn't come without a price; we had to learn that His answers come in His time, not ours. And even when we couldn't see the light, God was standing right there, even if He was just holding a flashlight. So that's that. Things will be tight, yes, but I remember God's promises and the fact that He brought us through that and so much more! We will make it work, rest assured, but we'll be ok. I prayed this morning that if this is meant to be, then it will be. God will make a way. Thanks to YOU ALL for being so supportive of us, and please continue your support. We will covet your prayers as this period will bring so much excitement but new challenges as well. 

The flaw of today's healthcare in the eyes of a US citizen

Kelly: I will begin by offering this disclaimer; these are merely my observations and opinions. I am not putting myself on a pedestal and deeming myself an "expert." But, I feel that what I have seen and heard cannot be unnoticed. I just saw and heard some very heavy duty stuff, and this is my opportunity to process it all. I borrowed a video from one of my professors titled Sicko. I wasn't really sure what to expect. The first half hour (this is a documentary) discussed several US commonfolk who faced current health problems but because of lack of health insurance or flawed insurance were denied medical coverage. The first two examples were no health insurance, and a guy literally HAD TO CHOOSE which of his fingers to reattach. One would cost over 50k, the other just a little over 10k. Which do you think he chose?

There was more to the video, but two parts of this movie disgusted me the most. The first scenario took place in LA, and there was a guy who worked at some sort of free clinic. He was talking about how one day he was watching the cameras and a staff member escorted a confused and disorientated woman inside...while she was still in her hospital garb. Turns out, the staff of the hospital she came from found out she couldn't pay her bills, so they put her in a cab and drove her to the free clinic.

I'm sorry, but....WHAT?!

Oh no, it gets worse. Turns out when the hospital gets wind that patients can't pay their bills, they dump them. Yes, as in put them in a taxi and drop them off.

I'm sorry, but....WHAT?!

Another scenario focused on several 9/11 volunteers who helped victims get found amongst the rubble. I will say this again, these were volunteers...as in...NOT employees. However, because they were not properly protected because they were just you know, trying to do the right thing, they developed some health complications. But because their care was "too expensive" according to their insurance, they could not get the full care that they  needed. Cut to....Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. This is where some of the 9/11 terrorists ended up as prisoners. They receive...and I quote straight from the film "top of the line healthcare." Yes, along with France and England and other European countries covered by the NHS (National Health Service), and Canada, they receive FREE HEALTH CARE.

Now I know what you're thinking: You mean to say that TERRORISTS who were responsible for 2,000+ lives over 10 years ago receive BETTER healthcare than average US Citizens?

Yes.

So later, the movie director gets a BOAT, takes these volunteers and boats them from Miami to Guantanamo Bay so they can get some good healthcare. But...according to the media, Cuba is one of our enemies. Or so you thought...the 9/11 volunteers are not only NOT turned away, but they also receive the diagnostic tests, cheaper prescriptions and procedures that some of them needed.

At this point in the movie I was crying. I really was. Not only because the volunteers got the healthcare that they truly deserved, but that they had to go to a "enemy" country to receive it. And they got exactly what they deserved, by golly! It's just appalling that this flawed healthcare is what our country, my country I live in, has come to. Refusing to pay for care, dumping helpless patients, denying people health insurance is just...sick. I can't come up with any other word.

What upsets me the most are two things: number 1, I will be working in this. I can't escape it, unless give up everything I love and have worked hard to build and move to another country. I'd make a heck of a living, but the trade off is higher tax dollars. Hmm...yeah, I'd pay higher tax dollars for free health care. Sign me up. Second, I too am fighting tooth and nail with insurance. Apparently, the rest of my physical therapy that I completed almost a year ago won't be covered until I go to the Billing Department and fill out this form that NOBODY bothered to tell me about. My mom had to call my insurance company.

I apologize that this post is so long, but I feel that we need to read this. And even if you're not a health care professional, PLEASE see this movie in some point during your life. It will change your life, maybe for the better, maybe for the worse. But if nothing, your eyes will be opened wide, as mine are. All I have to close with is this; we can do better.

To close, I would like to give the credit to the movie Sicko and all of the directors, participants and producers. Thank you for opening my eyes. Our country as a whole may not be "the best," but as a future healthcare provider I will do MY best to be THE best.

Theme of the day: "I'M NOT CRAZY!"

Kelly: It's true, readers. Contrary to what you may have seen or heard, we are not crazy! Granted, it has been a rather crazy week, but it's not true. This week was actually the first full week of what I am about to endure for the rest of this semester. Two day a week clinicals, so far, are NOT agreeing with me. Awake at 4:00 on Tuesday, and I've been up since 6 this morning. Oh well, as the old saying holds...this too shall pass. Over time my body will adjust to my erratic sleeping/waking cycles. Although thus far I have enjoyed both of my rotations. Tuesdays I am so far in Lexington at St. Joseph Main doing...whatever. I was in the OR on Tuesday (hello, robotic laparascopic assisted hysterectomy!!!!), and today I was in a psychiatric facility, observing individuals with substance abuse. I must say, I am so impressed by these individuals and their courage to realize they have a problem and are fixing it. Mental health can be a very dangerous field...but there are those who do own up to their issues and try to work them out. EVERYONE in the group meeting I observed today were admitted voluntary; in other words, it was their choice. Stay tuned, and for more accurate and detailed descriptions, please read my blog entitled "Clinical adventures: from novice to RN." Ok, enough of my shameless plug.

Funny factoid/story that happened today, I was checking my Yahoo! email as I typically do. I was deleting the usual facebook group posts or something like that and then I received this one email that for some reason I could just not ignore. The subject was "Chase bank doesn't like you." Chuckling, I opened it. Below is the first paragraph of such email, verbatim:

"Aaron Collette came off a plane from Iraq and into his "safe zone” -- his father's home in Oregon that you saved from imminent foreclosure by Chase bank while Aaron is home on leave.

Aaron and his dad Tim recorded a video to thank you and 122,000 Change.org members for saving their home while Aaron is on leave from Iraq." 

 Uh...excuse me?! Either my email has been spammed to kingdom come or someone is playing a joke on me. Though this is an incredibly awesome story, I was NO WAY involved with saving this family's home from "imminent foreclosure." And I'm still not sure why Chase bank doesn't like me....but we'll see. Suggestions on what I should do with this email would greatly be appreciated. That's all to report for now. Cheers!

Holly: Um...yeah, I think that Chase bank SHOULD like you.  But anyway...

The blog's title actually came from a previous Facebook status of mine from earlier today.  I arrived to work this morning just before 9 and my professor boss asked me where the clickers are.  (Ok, I know that y'all have NO IDEA what I'm talking about, so just bear with it).  My mind panicked because I could have absolutely sworn that I had left them out from the previous lab; in fact, I know I did!!!! All the while I swore up and down that I am NOT crazy! So my professor left to do another sweep of all the labs and prep rooms when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.  I mentioned my inquiry to my fellow TA, and to my horror/shock/hilarity, I realized that it was a clicker.  In fact, ALL of the clickers were situated perfectly in the middle of each and every table.  Needless to say, we all got a good laugh.  I think that during clean up I asked myself, Ugh, can it just be the weekend already???

This afternoon I also got to hear a talk from an MD who is chair of the...well, I don't remember what...department at UK (University of Kentucky, for our out-of-territory readers).  But this guy was freakinnnnggggg brilliant!! He has a bajillion patents on an artificial lung/other heart-lung related mechanisms and hasn't received a penny from hardly any of them! And this all started when he investigated the not-so-hidden dangers of ventilators! Ventilators!!! Who would have thunk it?  Apparently, over time, ventilators do more harm than good.  But yeah, definitely left the talk having learned something.  And not only was he freakinnnnnnnngggggg brilliant, but he could rip on the harmonica like no other!!! I was just like, play dat harmonica, genius lung man!

In other news, I got another 85 on my online high stress-inducing biochemistry quiz (sha-zam!), and I can now see clearly on my side of the dorm again.  Yes, our light has been burned out since we moved in but now all is well, bright, and clear in 202 once again! :)  And kettle corn is awwweeeessssoooommmmeeee!!!

Tomorrow is Friday (hooray!).  Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and is looking forward to the great things to come! :)

blessings!!! <3