I had some funny things happen to me when I was in Medical School that I want to share. The first one happened when I was doing a rotation through Psychiatry. I was in a small group, maybe 12 of us, plus our instructor. We were discussing sexual habits of adults around the world. The question our instructor posed to us was something along the lines of, “just say there are two, unrelated, children marooned on an island with no other adults around. The little boy and girl struggled but managed to survive eating fresh fruit, fish, etc. and grew up to be healthy adults. Do you think they would have discovered an intimate sexual relationship totally by themselves with absolutely no idea of what sex was all about?” She went around the room to ask us each to answer “Yes or No.” Most everyone answered “No.” I answered “Yes.” She then said the answer was “Yes.” Of course I was pleased that I got it right. Just wonder what you all think of this, readers.
The next thing (more interesting than funny) that happened was while I was doing a rotation through Radiology. We were in another small group of about 12 students.The instructor was showing us films of various circumstances and asked us to comment. He showed a film and asked us what we thought. No one said a word but I put up my hand. And what do you see, Dr. Hines? I replied that I saw a flashlight. He then asked me exactly where do you see this flashlight? It then dawned on me why no one else had raised their hand. I had to answer. The rectum. Oh my good lord, The film was of a male body that had a rather large flashlight inside his rectum. I was mortified. The poor guy. Everyone else had the good sense to keep their mouth shut except me.
Another interesting thing was again while I was doing a rotation through Psychiatry. This was a “clinical” rotation through a “lock-up” unit in a hospital. The hours were much less than most rotations but at the end of the shift (about 6 o’clock) I was so exhausted I could hardly make it to my car. The patients were extremely messed up and I felt so sorry for them. Then we admitted this lady and my “Attending” assigned me to work her up. She was such a nice lady and I wondered why on earth she was in our “lock-up” ward. The next morning I went in to check on her and she had pulled off all the linens from her bed. I asked her why she pulled them off and she nearly went “berserk.” I left the room in a hurry to let her calm down. My Attending told me she had “roots” on her. I must have looked at him in utter confusion. He asked me didn’t I know what roots were? I said the only thing I know of are roots from a tree or plant. He laughed at me. He then told me that someone had put “roots” on her which meant that someone, like a “voodoo” doctor had put an evil spell on her. It was then up to me to find out who had done this and why. This was extremely difficult but I finally got to the bottom of it. She had had a fight with her sister-in-law and that person had paid the “voodoo” doctor to put a spell on her. The spell involved bed linens that would poison her and kill her. I felt so sorry for her and with the help of my excellent “Attending” we helped her. We put her on a dye which is used to soothe the bladder when a person has a urinary tract infection. We knew it would turn her urine blue. We planned to keep her on it for only two days. We told her that we had given her medication that would rid her of her “roots” and that her roots would be gone if her urine turned blue. Of course, her urine turned blue and she was thrilled. We were able to dismiss her the next day. I had never heard of “roots” being put on someone and this was not funny but I shall never forget that episode.
Another funny thing, to me anyway, was that a seminar was coming up and someone had posted it on our student bulletin board that we all checked every day or so. The title of the seminar was, “What To Do With Grandma.” Obviously, this was a “social services” type course concerning caretaking. I just couldn’t resist. I posted a note under it that said, “Send her to Med. School.” I was a fourth year medical student at that time and had just become a grandmother. I, supposedly, was the only grandmother medical student in the United States. I’m not sure that made me famous or infamous but I was proud of it. Anyway, my fellow students did not seem to know if I had posted that or if someone in our class had posted it to be sarcastic. I got some strange looks from my peers for awhile.
Anyway, I don’t really know how in the world I got through four years of medical school at my age except for the fact that I was absolutely determined to do it. It was strictly perseverance. It most certainly was not brains. It was against all odds as I was told by many people that I couldn’t get in and that even if I did I would never “make” it. It truly was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but my big message here is to anyone out there who has a big “DREAM.” Do not ever give up. Thanks for listening to my “musings.”
