Welcome to my blog!

I am Lei, and I just started blogging. Let me tell you about myself.

I (am) used to be a geek. A cool one. I took up Molecular Biology and Biotechnology because it sounded nice. And I wanted to wear a biohazard suit to work. They don't wear biohazard suits pala. Wrong motive. After my bloody thesis on the mitochondrial DNA of an obscure fish, I realized it's not for me. I decided to become a physician instead.

Four years into medical school and one year short of graduating,  I took a break and found myself working with a community development NGO in Palawan run by a Christian doctor. That experience made a huge impact in my life, and I knew I would be back to serve. True enough, I got a scholarship during my internship that allowed me to be a barrio doctor. Guess where I was assigned? Smack right in the middle of the sea :) Palawan!

It was every adventurous doctor's dream. The place is breathtaking but the boat rides were notoriously cruel. Because I was the only doctor, I had to treat everyone in my best capacity. Most patients didn't have the money to go to the hospital in the next island, 3-4 hours away. There was even a time when I had to read a surgery textbook before doing a procedure. Good heavens, I would have referred that kid to a hand orthopedic surgeon back in PGH. What I lacked in my skills, the Lord supplied with grace.

Fast forward. I am now a plain housewife to Arvin and a full time mommy to my precious Caleb. Hwhhatt?  A stay-at-home mom? You heard it right. Some say that my decision is anti-climactic. I think otherwise. The thing is, I only pursue things that I am completely passionate about.

And while I am on hiatus with my medical career, don't you want to know what goes inside the mind of a crazy doctor mom? Many doctor moms are too busy to blog anyway.

But hey, full-time moms like me are super busy people too. And I only write when I am inspired, when Caleb is asleep, and when the chores are done. Inspire me more! Let me know what you want to hear :)

Thanks for dropping by!

Lei

When a doctor's kid gets sick...

A doctor friend was on the phone fretting over something behind her baby's ear. My son Caleb had one, too. And I remember begging Arvin to take a work leave so that we could bring him to the pedia together. I might not be able to bear the bad news, I said. Turned out it was nothing to be worried about. (I think) doctor moms are actually more paranoid than other moms. We can think of all the near and far-fetched possibilities there are in a simple fever or lump. I mean this even with our patients, not just with our own kids. But of course, we don't tell you all the scary stuff on the first visit. That is why we ask some tests and schedule a  follow up appointment (no, this is not just a money-making scheme so if you trust your doctor, by all means go back for that appointment!!).

Last weekend I had to contend with Caleb's first ever fever sick mode. He refused to be comforted by anyone but me, and only nursed to be comforted. Some well meaning people asked why I am not taking him to the doctor. (Like, hello? I am one. They keep forgetting that just because I am the all-around housewife.)  I would lie if I say I was not tempted to rush to the ER.  In fact, the hospital bag was ready. I didn't because my objective judgement overruled my maternal instinct. Plus my maternal instinct hates to see my kid being needle poked.

Ooops, I am not sending a delay-consult-all-will-be-well signal here. Believe me, I was more vigilant with Caleb than I have been during my ICU duties in PGH. I only mean to share how difficult it was to be objective with my own son being sick. Back in the island, I would have considered him an 'easy' case -  examine the patient, reassure the mother, give prescriptions and instructions, blah blah blah... This process takes on a whole new meaning now.

I also want to let this out.. did you ever feel guilty when one of your kids got sick? I actually did. It was a different kind of turmoil. Where possibly did he get it? Is there anything I failed to do? Can I take away his pain? But as I nursed my very own sick child,  I have come to terms with the fragility of life from a different perspective. That no matter how I try to protect him, a scratch, a bruise or another infection may still get through.  I had to trust God's sustaining grace over Caleb's life instead of fretting over these inevitables. I love my son, but the Lord loves him waaaay beyond.. and this is just so comforting :)


"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" -Isaiah 49:15

Caleb had a simple viral infection - the one that doesn't need antibiotics, needle pokes, or hospital stays. The one that goes away on its own. Self-limiting, as doctors call it. I was right to trust the facts all along.

Xoxo,

Mommy Lei, MD