2019 was not ushered in in a special way – praying on my feet or bent knees in church or in deep reflection, charting the course for the new year. There was hardly time for it. I did write down some goals: read at least two fiction every month and one nonfiction each month, find a magazine or website to create content for. These are about the goals I remember off of the top of my head.
I was preoccupied with work at the time. Being the sole house officer in a busy unit, there was scarcely enough time for personal or social activities asides work. I was on call on the 31st of December 2018 and even when I managed to get some sleep, I was awakened by a call from the ward. A patient was gasping, one who would die a few hours into the new year. That was my life.
The following months of the year would see me completing housemanship, taking it a day at a time, and ensuring I complete the phase healthy and sound. I recapped all of these on my blog.
Upon completing housemanship and assuming the unglamorous title of medical officer – the only bright side for me was becoming fully registered to practice as a medical doctor in Nigeria – I took up a job in a private hospital in Lagos. It was not a busy hospital and was situated close to my aunt’s house in Surulere where I was residing, shielding me from the typical Lagos work life. I found myself mostly alone with occasional inputs from my employer, the medical director of the hospital. For the most part of my housemanship, I had prepared myself for moments like this. Disconcerting and tedious when I first started, I was thankful for the opportunity in the end.
Besides the extra cash I made to buffer the many expenses I found myself making following housemanship and the gradual depletion of my savings, I built myself professionally. I gained extra confidence, more than merely attempting, but doing successfully some things I had never done before. I remember a two-year-old boy who was brought in by the mother one morning, following insertion of a piece of crayon into his right ear the previous night. I was worried that the crayon may be friable and may dissipate into tiny particles while I attempted to remove it. I was cautious of doing something I didn’t have the expertise for. The nurse whom I was with, although an untrained nurse but armed with over ten years of experience, encouraged me to go on with the procedure. I successfully removed the foreign body from the child’s ear and discharged them home safe and sound. I also saw to the management of patients myself from admission to discharge and improved my knowledge, diagnosis and treatment of diverse medical conditions. The hospital also provided me with time to study. It was a productive three months.
I proceeded from there to the NYSC orientation camp, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo state. After the 21-day orientation exercise, I was posted to a theology college clinic in Akure where I would be the only medical doctor, working alongside two nurses; similar to my pre-NYSC experience but with better working hours. I hope to make the most of the next year – NYSC and otherwise.
2019 taught me that there are some things more important than money. It taught me tenacity; that I can survive more things than I think I can. I also learnt in this year to reach for the stars – basically, to set my goals, make my plans, commit them into God’s hands and trust Him to lead me to success. I am committed to continual growth in every sphere of my life and thankful for the gift of time 2020 holds, and hopeful that I would be zealous enough to multiply this great resource.
Thank you, Perry, for this wonderful opportunity to look back on my year, count my blessings and project for the new year.
Merry Christmas in advance, everyone, and a prosperous new year.
Love,
Annie.
Season Greetings from Perry’s Tots.🎄
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