I must be in some sort of strange vortex of something- as I KNOW I wrote this already, and I can be fairly assured that I wrote it better before. The joys of stream of consciousness writing... I just write!
So, my man, Mr. G. Got his story- in a nutshell, go to the dentist, and don't forget to take care of your teeth. :-) His story (and again, I might not have this all right) happened as he got a pacer, a lead got infected (from the tooth) which then spread to his spinal column. From there, it just got worse, and the cardiomyopathy built on everything else. He was being hit with the showers of bacteria, which (again might not have this right) was settling in his brain, as well as his abdominal cavity. Dentists removed 3 teeth this past week and there is hope that this might be something that allows him to live a bit longer.
(Oh, I did write about this, just further down- I am NOT crazy!)
Here is what we don't have right now. And I am grateful. As much as I am looking forward to doing my piece on this, it's one hell of a shit disease. Antiphospholipid disorder- have not seen any of that for the past few months. I admit to seeing enough to last me a life time, given the horror that it is. We also have not had a postpartum cardiomyopathy. Another one that is tough. I do think my theses will be on APS.
So, today was good otherwise. very nice emailing back and forth- sanguine to be sure. It makes me smile, and certainly filled with elan. I also had a very nice lab- practicals are done and onto the lab quiz midterm. Last exam went very well, (Thank God) and I am feeling slightly more in control with this. Other classes are going well, so, it's all good.
I have played the mother lion today- went after Nicks Alg. teacher to figure out what the hell her issue is.... just finished with Randolph on the phone- I think it went well. We will see. I will pull him out of GH as fast as I can if things do not improve. Too much stress to put up with this.
Must sleep...Argh! Married for 9 years in 3 days. That was quick....!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Story Angles
I would like to use the Martin Bandyke story that just happened in Ann Arbor. Martin John was laid off from the local station 107one- as far as I know, the only station that is germane to A2, and very important to the area. It appears to be owned by a larger company- and that company appears to not be located in A2. From what I can tell, with the tiny amount of looking, it is a rather large conglomeration and therefore, as much as I perceived 107one as local, it really was not. Martin John brought that feeling to the station, which is valuable in itself
There are a few angles I would think about- I know I would probably choose the profile of Martin John, but could also look at a few other ideas.
First would be the profile- He has been in A2 for 3 years (or close to) and A2 radio really has been about this station, which features Martin on the weekdays, as well as a nice segment called Fine Tuning on Sundays. He also is very involved in the local music scene, and knows a lot about the areas talent. He did a lot of community service, and was involved in a lot of local fund raisers, inc the Humane Society of Huron Valley. All in all, an interesting guy, and one worth a nice profile.
My second idea would be to look at the A2 radio scene- and how it has evolved and why it's facing such pressures financially. This is a big change for the station, and certainly a big risk. Why is radio in trouble? Is this a nationwide trend? What has satellite radio done to the local markets?
I would also think about doing something like "the day of a DJ" I think it would be interesting to see what others do, as well as looking at what Martin John did.
I also think an article looking at the local music scene would be nice- Martin did a lot with locals, and it would be interesting to hear more about them, and how important someone like Martin is to their getting noticed. Even if he is still not on the radio, I would guess that he will continue to be involved and finding out from him what he thinks about local talent would be neat, too.
There are a few angles I would think about- I know I would probably choose the profile of Martin John, but could also look at a few other ideas.
First would be the profile- He has been in A2 for 3 years (or close to) and A2 radio really has been about this station, which features Martin on the weekdays, as well as a nice segment called Fine Tuning on Sundays. He also is very involved in the local music scene, and knows a lot about the areas talent. He did a lot of community service, and was involved in a lot of local fund raisers, inc the Humane Society of Huron Valley. All in all, an interesting guy, and one worth a nice profile.
My second idea would be to look at the A2 radio scene- and how it has evolved and why it's facing such pressures financially. This is a big change for the station, and certainly a big risk. Why is radio in trouble? Is this a nationwide trend? What has satellite radio done to the local markets?
I would also think about doing something like "the day of a DJ" I think it would be interesting to see what others do, as well as looking at what Martin John did.
I also think an article looking at the local music scene would be nice- Martin did a lot with locals, and it would be interesting to hear more about them, and how important someone like Martin is to their getting noticed. Even if he is still not on the radio, I would guess that he will continue to be involved and finding out from him what he thinks about local talent would be neat, too.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Leads and other important things....
Ann Arbor seems like a quiet town. Next to its news noisy neighbor Detroit, what can happen in such a small town? Plenty, says Greg Stejskal, former FBI agent that was based out of Ann Arbor for over 25 years.
During his career Stejskal has been involved in the unibomber case, the Oklahoma City Bombing case, the first case of internet threat brought to the attention of media- just a few cases that had ties to the Ann Arbor area.
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Imagine someone told you that the MLB knew about the use and abuse of steroids years before it became the cover of SI. Imagine you were the person that told the MLB commissioner that steroid abuse was a problem and no one did anything about it. Imagine your frustration when the public outcry was so riotous that it was the cover of every newspaper for weeks- ten years after your investigation. If your name was Greg Stejskal, there would be no need to wonder- you would know.
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In his years at the helm of the Ann Arbor division of the FBI. Greg Stejskal has seen many criminals do stupid things. When a suspect jumped into a lake in _____township, surrounded by FBI SWAT team members with guns drawn, Stejskal knew this was the top of the list for his Darwin Awards given out during his career.
such a mess-
in so many ways.
Dirge without Music
Edna St. Vincent Millay
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.
Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, --- but the best is lost.
The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.
this past weekend was something of a cluster. All the stars aligned to make things insane. It was a lesson in how not to not to- run a code, transfer a patient, let someone die, keep someone alive, schedule. I hope to never see that sort of nightmare again- The "leaders and the best" with no light? And...no one to fix it? Really? Seriously? Last time I checked, ALS is not done like that- I think everyone was so freaked out they panicked, and that created even more of the nightmare. What I learned? If someone has been running low all damn day, you do not transfer them to the unit at 3:30 am. And you don't put them in a room with no overhead light. And you don't have a resident at the end of their 80 hrs swan them, nor try and start an a-line when the pt is 60/d. You get your lines established earlier, and be proactive. And it the pt says..."I'm dying..." believe them. They know.
I was asked twice on Sun pm to make sure that they made it thru the night. Both my 90 yo woman as well as my 50 yo code. If the patient asks you this, you have an amazing responsibility. I left at 7:30- they both were still alive- and then, I felt horrible my lol wanted me there when she died; I had to leave. My other woman is intubated, and a mess-I wonder how she is today?
Ms. A went home-I think- she was interesting, and came along as such an amazing time
Dirge without Music
Edna St. Vincent Millay
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.
Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, --- but the best is lost.
The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Questions....
These are questions I would ask.
I am hoping to garner an interview with the woman who has just secured (Not 100% sure about this- it's still kind of U of M gossip...but I have a very close contact. She is at a conference until Thursday...am planning on calling her on Friday) the biggest grant given for research on High Risk pregnancy and sleep apnea. This project has been in the works for YEARS and just in the past month, it has been determined that there is a tie between sleep apnea/deprivation and preeclampsia. And NO I am not sharing names just yet! :-)This is not going to be announced to the public for another couple of weeks as I understand it. Still trying to get more info....
Tell me a bit about your background?
Do you have children yourself?
Where did you do your schooling?
Where did you begin your research?
What led you to the U of M?
What decided this particular field of research?
Who is this grant from?
Why?
How did you gather your information?
Sample size?
What do you hope is the outcome of this research?
What do you see this research leading to next? (or depending on where things go, see if she is willing to share other things she is working on....the biggest issue with this is the "scoop" factor. If this grant is indeed as big as I am told, I million for a single person..., that's a lot of money esp. today.)
Ironic...
talk about too much giving! wow, I am exhausted right now--on almost every level.
Done bitching.... :-)
April is in labor, so of course I am having monstrous cramps, because that's just how I do things- we have always had this really strange bond- I found out I was pregnant with Nick the day she delivered Tiff. If she got her period, well, I was sure to follow. I have no sense of my own body- I just go with whomever means something to me right then. Since I am in NO danger of getting pregnant now, it's kind of nice. :-) She knows it's a girl, and has "passed" all the U/S's with flying colors- thank God for them. So I am waiting to hear.... She is here, and text'd me at 11ish- but had not started labor, but her water had broken. Lyric- nice name.
At work, its been kind of nuts. I do have this lovely woman who is 90. When someone tells you they love you and they are 90, it's all good with me. She knows that her end is near, and it is. I thought we were there, but she rebounded. I just held her- Kerry is her RN, and we sat with her and when she was having the most trouble, she just came up so I could hold her. She must weigh about 90 lbs. She had the sense she would not make it thru the night- even though her numbers are good. She kept saying Thank you, and was so kind. Her docs are okay- but what can you do? so, comfort care, and hopefully a kind, sweet end. She wants to see her husband, and her son (who was killed by a drunk driver on Dec 23rd, many years ago. He was 28.) Her husband died a few years ago, and I heard about her life with him, too. It was a very lovely and happy life. She was fairly dismayed at the lack of dignity she experienced in the ED- "Everyone saw Everything. I was so embarrassed!" and then she told me a bit more about her husband- they must have had a very nice life :-)!! She is ready as I have ever seen anyone. She only has 10cc's out thus far this evening- so, hopefully....
I got a bit more about my other, very quiet man from Kerry- his entire situation has been caused by...3...bad...teeth. Yup- and, pretty sure he is not going to make it. He is VRE, so, it's hard for me to spend a lot of time with him, but I have gone in and spoken to him a couple of times tonight. He has been very kind, and thankful for everything we have done. He also has spinal involvement now- from the pacer lead that got infected. So, he is one sick man. 36 years old. I guess there have been some interesting family dynamics that have occurred since I have been gone. From what I understand, wife number 2 is not actually his wife, but was signing his papers as his wife. Wife number 1 got offended.... oops!
So, I am very boring right now.... when I have so much happening-my reserves go elsewhere.
Done bitching.... :-)
April is in labor, so of course I am having monstrous cramps, because that's just how I do things- we have always had this really strange bond- I found out I was pregnant with Nick the day she delivered Tiff. If she got her period, well, I was sure to follow. I have no sense of my own body- I just go with whomever means something to me right then. Since I am in NO danger of getting pregnant now, it's kind of nice. :-) She knows it's a girl, and has "passed" all the U/S's with flying colors- thank God for them. So I am waiting to hear.... She is here, and text'd me at 11ish- but had not started labor, but her water had broken. Lyric- nice name.
At work, its been kind of nuts. I do have this lovely woman who is 90. When someone tells you they love you and they are 90, it's all good with me. She knows that her end is near, and it is. I thought we were there, but she rebounded. I just held her- Kerry is her RN, and we sat with her and when she was having the most trouble, she just came up so I could hold her. She must weigh about 90 lbs. She had the sense she would not make it thru the night- even though her numbers are good. She kept saying Thank you, and was so kind. Her docs are okay- but what can you do? so, comfort care, and hopefully a kind, sweet end. She wants to see her husband, and her son (who was killed by a drunk driver on Dec 23rd, many years ago. He was 28.) Her husband died a few years ago, and I heard about her life with him, too. It was a very lovely and happy life. She was fairly dismayed at the lack of dignity she experienced in the ED- "Everyone saw Everything. I was so embarrassed!" and then she told me a bit more about her husband- they must have had a very nice life :-)!! She is ready as I have ever seen anyone. She only has 10cc's out thus far this evening- so, hopefully....
I got a bit more about my other, very quiet man from Kerry- his entire situation has been caused by...3...bad...teeth. Yup- and, pretty sure he is not going to make it. He is VRE, so, it's hard for me to spend a lot of time with him, but I have gone in and spoken to him a couple of times tonight. He has been very kind, and thankful for everything we have done. He also has spinal involvement now- from the pacer lead that got infected. So, he is one sick man. 36 years old. I guess there have been some interesting family dynamics that have occurred since I have been gone. From what I understand, wife number 2 is not actually his wife, but was signing his papers as his wife. Wife number 1 got offended.... oops!
So, I am very boring right now.... when I have so much happening-my reserves go elsewhere.
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