Day 19 - First Aid For the Heart

We had our First Aid exam tonight. I got to the school a few minutes early, visited with some classmates, and about 10 minutes before going to take the exam, I checked crackbook...I mean facebook...on my phone. When I read a dear friend's status, it literally took my breath away. He shared that his beloved wife of many years had lost her battle to cancer about 10 minutes prior. It was not unexpected, but yet at the same time, when you hear that someone you have worshiped and served in church with for the last 11 years goes to their reward, and you realize you're left here in this imperfect world, it takes your breath away. At least it did with me.
But I didn't have time to think it about right then. I had a final exam in a few short minutes.
We had a few minutes to review before the exam, but I figured that if I didn't know it by then, I wasn't going to learn it in the next five minutes.
I started the exam and was done within a half hour, I'd say.
While waiting for everybody to finish, my classmates and I sat in the student break room and chatted. They made me smile and laugh and forget about things for a few minutes.
We reconvened in the classroom, discussed the exam, got our test scores (94%, thank you very much) and then took a break. After returning from the break, we moved to our bodywork room where we studied or practiced bodywork techniques for tomorrow night's exam. As always, the experience took away the stress of the day and allowed us to focus on right there, at that moment. A little First Aid for the heart.
Then, it was time to go home. A long drive of 40 minutes with me, the radio, and my thoughts to keep me company. The radio station I turned to played one of my favorite songs, Mountain of God, by Third Day, a song about how we must go through the valley to be able to stand upon the Mountain of God. I thought about my friend, Maralynn, with her welcoming party in heaven. A little later, the song "He Reigns" by the Newsboys came on, and I had a few tears - with the cruise control set at 70 mph. After that song, Jeremy Camp's song, "Give Me Jesus" came on, and I thought about when Jeremy Camp came on the music scene, he had just lost his wife to cancer.
I don't generally talk about my faith on this blog, because that's not the purpose of this blog. It's about the whole experience of taking the program to become a massage therapist. Tonight, I can't help but share - and it's been part of my experience at the school. My friend is in heaven without pain and no more tears. Isn't that where you would want to be?

Day 15 - What is Necessary is Never Unwise

I admit it: I am a Trekkie. No, I don't dress up for Star Trek Cons, but I do love me some Star Trek. Mostly STNG, Voyager, and Enterprise with that cutie Scott Bakula. When JJ Abrams' Star Trek came out last year, I was all a-twitter. I made sure that I had a copy of the DVD when it came out and have probably watched it no less than 15 times. All that to talk about one scene where Spock's mom had perished and during a conversation with his father, Sarek, said something to the effect of "sharing my emotions would be unwise," to which Sarek responded, "What is necessary is never unwise."
Stacy, what does that have to do with massage school?
I've talked about the First Aid lectures and hands-on things we have been doing. It's not fun like doing the bodywork, nor as relaxing, but it is necessary. What happens if somebody is on my table and has a heart attack? I need to know what to do in that situation. In order become a licensed Massage Therapist in Maryland, I need to pass my First Aid final exam with an 80% or higher. I have had four classes in it now, and believe I could pass today if I had to take the exam today. However, I have until next Wednesday that I will be studying, because sometimes 80% just isn't good enough.
If I find you in an emergency situation, would you be confident in me, knowing that I barely passed my final exam in First Aid? Would you want your doctor to have crammed, doing all-nighters with Twinkies and coffee, to be able to pass the medical exam?
Didn't think so.
So, as this is necessary, but not glamourous, it is wise for me take the time and learn even more about reacting in emergency situations.
After the discussion about First Aid, we also talked about being bodyworkers who could potentially be working with clients who are living with HIV/AIDS. As long as we have their doctor's permission, what a loving act to do for somebody who may have been ostracized and deemed as "untouchable" because of the disease. As far as safety, it is potentially more damaging to the client than it would be to us, the bodyworker, as massages can compromise the immune system.
Once again, I stand amazed at how much I am learning in such a short amount of time.

Day 11 - Ugh!

We had Session 3 of First Aid, where we covered how to help in situations of bleeding, puncture wounds, burns, broken bones, back injuries, seizures, and shock. We talked about impalement. Some of the discussion just gave me the willies, I must say. I think it also gave me a headache, for which we did not go over treatment, much to my chagrin.
I'm not sure, but I think because it was Cinco de Mayo, some of the folks in class were particularly rowdy and talkative. Molly handled it as well as she could.
One of the difficult things I'm finding about keeping up with this schedule is that I am currently working in Gaithersburg. To get to the school, there's not a really good, no-traffic straight route, not to mention the morning commute to get to the office. Most days it takes me an hour and 20 minutes to get to the school, after working 8 hours. I found out yesterday that there's a small possibility that I may be able to transfer to the Frederick office, which would totally help my situation. It's a straight shot to the school and only 15 minutes from my house. The one problem: it's a temporary position, meaning that after the "temp" position is done, I may be out of a job. However, I feel I am going to need to take this gamble.

Day 7 - First Aid - Not Kool-Aid

First thing's first. I have meant to post this picture. It's pretty well known that when you go into a public restroom, there is a good chance that there may be graffiti. Well, I found during my first visit to BSOM that the bathroom wall graffiti is a bit different that than the derogatory stuff you may normally see. This photo was taken in the restroom stall - written on the door.
So, into Day 7, where we studied more of First Aid.
We focused on First Aid, learning things like how to respond in an emergency, how to stop a bleed, what to do if someone is having chest pain or a potential heart attack, and what to do if someone is choking. A couple of my classmates have already been in some of these situations to need to be the person helping in an emergency, so I'm sure they were glad to have actually gotten this information.
We also learned about Personal Protective Equipment, which is something I've actually learned about at my current job. Since it's a bio-services company, there are human tissue and fluid samples and each employee, regardless of position, is supposed to know how to protect themselves against bloodborn pathogens. Sounds like fun, huh? Anyway, I think I've got that part of the class covered. :-)
As we have more classes, I'm getting to know my classmates. They are definitely an interesting and diverse group, each bringing their own background to discussions about situations.
One of my classmates asked me if I had lost weight! Hey - that's encouraging! Even if I hadn't lost ANYTHING, it still helps to think that maybe I've changed enough in the last week and half...maybe standing straighter or exuding more confidence, but she noticed SOMETHING! She said it wasn't my haircut, but something. Pretty cool.
Now, if I can just stay away from those Reeses Whipps...