I'm Back

Camp 2008 was wonderful, but of course, exhausting. I would say that the highlight of my week was getting to know one of our newly diagnosed teenage patients. This patient is very shy and I had only met her once prior to camp. I saw her sitting alone while her group was participating in art, so I took the opportunity to chat. We ended up talking for about 30 minutes and at the end of the conversation she said, "I like talking to you, it's nice." In that moment, time was frozen and I said internally, "I love my job!" I may stay filthy all week, there are numerous spiders and insects everywhere, I have to function on very little sleep, but I get to know my kids so much better and that's worth it! One of my 8 year old campers remembered that I had played basketball with him the past two years and asked me every night when if I would play with him this year. We finally ended up playing briefly last night. When my patient decided to take a break from the game he just stopped, took my arm, and put it around his shoulders...another, "I love my job" moment.

It was also a good week of reflection. Although camp has a hectic schedule, I did manage to find some time to steal away and focus on where I am at spiritually. The camp is right on the water of the Pamlico Sound, which makes reflection on God very easy. I began reading a book entitled, Lies Women Believe, and the Truth that Sets Them Free. I have only just started this book, but already I have been convicted by the Spirit. One of the lies this book suggests women fall into believing is that we can have a fruitful relationship with Christ without spending time in His word and in prayer. I have to admit, this is me...I have run on my own steam for too long, believing that I could have an effective ministry without being fed by the word and refreshed through prayer regularly. I took the opportunity to reconnect with God and spent some quality time in prayer and God blessed that by giving me opportunities to pray several times with one of my patients. I'm hoping that I'll continue to have opportunities to minister to this particular patient as she struggles with trusting God during her treatment.

While I was at camp, I heard from my best friend Andrea, who was married last August and has moved to Arizona with her wonderful hubby, Matt. Andrea is just over 18 weeks pregnant and found out she is expecting a baby boy. It was definitely a highlight of my week to hear that things are going well with her pregnancy and that baby boy Benjamin appears to be developing well.

That's all from my corner of the world. I'm going to take a warm shower and take a long nap in my own bed!

Camp 2008

I'm in the midst of packing for a week long camping trip with 100 of my Peds Hem/Onc patients, ages 6-18. We take our oncology, sickle cell, and hemophilia patients to Camp Don Lee in Arapahoe, NC once each year. Thankfully, we don't have camp in tents, we have cabins with bunkbeds. I love the opportunity to get to know the kids outside of our clinic setting. At camp, they see me and the other staff as real people, not just their healthcare professionals, which is fun. It's hard to leave behind the comforts of home...especially my hubby, a comfortable bed, and the internet, but I know I'll have a great time once I get there. Everyone check in on Steven for me. I hope he'll take advantage of a week to have some guy time and enjoy getting more settled into our new home. I'll update everyone on the festivities of camp when I return next Saturday.

Beach Bums

Steven and I are just returning from Emerald Isle where we had the blessing of spending a week with Steven's family relaxing at an ocean side paradise. This beach trip has become an annual event for the Gurkin side of the family, Steven's mother's family, and definitely one of the highlights of our year. We always look forward to time with the family, making memories with our niece and nephew, eating delicious meals, playing games until all hours of the night and this year, meeting our new 2nd cousin, Emma Grace. Now it's off to camp for me, as the pediatric hematology/oncology division hosts a camp for approximately 100 of our patients each summer - and Steven will be busy with different orientations for residency, which begins July 1st. I'm so thankful that we had this chance to spend time relaxing together before his residency begins and we're so grateful to have such an amazing family whom we love to be with.