Seasons Change

As the sun sets earlier, and the air gets a bit colder, these changes hint to the approach of autumn. Although summer has come to its end, the warm rays of sunshine pass on the torch of environmental beauty to the multicolored fallen leaves. Each season possesses its own features that fit best the likings of individuals.

Some people will have a preference for warmer months while others will embrace the cold white snow.

Some grow to embrace a season they never thought they would while others are convinced that a specific one reigns above all.

Some appreciate the ever-changing cycles of nature and adapt to Mother Nature's different attires.

To each their own.

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Personally, I am an avid fan of variation in sceneries. They challenged my brain bringing forth new colors, new elements and new designs in my way of thinking. They opened my eyes to different realities and enabled me to process information in manners beyond expectations. They contributed to my growth.

The point I am trying to bring across to you, my dear readers, is the following: exploration can only lead to discoveries ... if you are daring enough. From the very beginning of my nursing career, I have always been one to hop from one department to another. Like a rabbit, I had trouble staying still (okay Cristine, can you stop it with the metaphors now?). I've always enjoyed taking on new challenges and being a chameleon, blending in to the units I've worked on (okay, that was the last lame metaphor I swear).

When I first started working at the Neuro ICU, my aim was to gain more knowledge on neurological disorders, particularly brain tumors. After experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions with my mother's hospitalization and rehabilitation, I wanted to be the best resource for her if needed in the future. I wanted to know what would have happened had she had had her surgery here rather than abroad. And boy let me tell you, I've learned quite a few things that enraged me initially. I felt cheated once I realized how the care for neurosurgical patients here differed from that in the Philippines. Nevertheless, life goes on and so did I. I switched my feelings of anger to commitment; I was determined to ensure no other patient or their family would feel the way I felt back in Manila. And I hope that I did so for the past three years.

Working at the Neuro ICU was a tumultuous journey. It had its ups and its downs (obviously inevitable). It had its successes as well as its heart-wrenching losses. What stood out the most for me was the cohesiveness of the team. Respiratory therapists, CT techs, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, housekeeping staff, social workers, intensivists, patient attendants, nurses, and unit coordinators, all played a role in shaping me into the person I am today. Although (just like any hospital) it felt like a dysfunctional household at times, it is the people that kept it from crumbling down. It is also the reason why it has become the unit I've stayed in the longest.

Now that I've gotten further understanding of how my brain functions, it is now the time for me to stimulate it with new knowledge, a new setting, a new target population. As I prepare to embark on my pediatric ICU adventure, I reminisce about the innumerable memories, friendships and mentors I've made along the way. Thank you to my team, for all the lessons I couldn't have possibly made myself.

It is now time for me to care for my fellow age-mates.

After all, I've always been a kid at heart.

See you later!