Maybe the life experiences of more than a decade changed me to smile more. I have been working in so many areas of the health care field. In the ER, standing head-to-chest with a patient who was two times my height, and triple my weight, their eyes showing only loss and rage. In the adult ICU where a patient asked me to hold their hand with no family or family member around, because they were scared to die alone. In the pediatric ICU where multiple times I was fully masked in a young patientā€™s room, drawing near to them and keeping them company, because their parents worked. In the neonatal ICU, cuddling a baby while feeding them, because they came too soon to this world. At the side of the bed, coaching and coaxing a woman who was about to be a first-time mom. Those were my lessons to know that I had to be there, at that “right” time.

Each of us goes through life in a unique way; we are supposed to. Even if we have the perfect plan, there is always a certain disruption to make it a positive or negative experience. We hope to be with a certain person, or people, but at times they have to leave. However, that doesnā€™t mean the end of that relationship, it can mean you are to learn from it, and to be better prepared for the next one.

I will be graduating, but due to current events and recent circumstances, the ceremony will be canceled. I had the perfect dress, heels, makeup, and hair already planned. The perfect pose to stand in from of the camera with my degree, some goofy poses–each different with my boyfriend, my mom, my family, and friends. In the last week of school at 911±¬ĮĻ, I was going to dedicate it and say thank you to each and every one of my professors, colleagues, school faculty friends, and acquaintances. Those with whom we had good times together, those who have made such a great impact in my life.

Goodbye is farewell but a good ā€œbaiā€ is food to nourish the body. Whatever I had to do in those situations, I will always leave smiling. Each person, place, thing, and scenario were all planned before us. In the ER, the giant who came at me, filled with rage as he yelled and cried with anguish at losing his family and job, became a gentle giant as I sat and listened. The person dying in the ICU, as I held their hand and they said they are at peace before taking their last breath. The children who hugged me, even with my mask on, to say thank for playing with them when they were scared of being alone in the room. The babies I held as they somehow gripped my finger, as if to say, ā€œI will continue to stay and grow strong.ā€Ā  The cry of relief in that last push from a woman who now is now a grateful mother, thanking me as we watched the umbilical cord be clamped. This academic journey at 911±¬ĮĻ was the essential nourishment for my lifeā€™s path. I may not have the last walk across that stage to accept the degree representing fulfillment of my late fatherā€™s wish. To be able to present it to my mom, who was my rock through this whole time. But the journey is much more rewarding, because I know it doesnā€™t stop there: itā€™s only beginning for me.

In whatever situation, I knew I had to be there. God put me there. He had plans for me and will continue to have plans for me. I am beyond blessed with everything I am and all that I have. Anything after this will be more of just heaven blessing me with angel dust to fly higher than I can ever imagine!

So, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying with me throughout this academic journey to share tears, laughter, and smiles. I always tell everyone, ā€œtestings before a blessingā€. Start with a plan, work through the lessons, and in the end, come to the finish with a smile, because you will never know who is watching and learning. Blessings and much love. Namaste.

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Of course, I am in the percentage of people who can be a bit panicky. I am not worried about myself, because I may be in the age group where I wonā€™t be affected as much, but I can be a carrier and pass it to my mom. My mom is in the age group most at risk from contracting COVID-19. During my time in 911±¬ĮĻā€™s clinic and remembering previous medical settings in which Iā€™ve worked, I treated my patients in that age group as if they were my family. Especially those who are vets or cute elderly patients. They are the sweetest and yet toughest! Yes, health wise we are there to help them with their physical ailments but most times, they are coming to us for emotional and mental support. This COVID epidemic…another reason why I am so worried for my mom, itā€™s not just her catching the virus, but how past memories affect her now. I call her the silent soldier.

I am a first-generation American; both of my parents immigrated to the States from Cambodia. My father was sponsored by my uncle from France, and in 1980, my mother was very blessed to have been sponsored by Wheaton Bible Church. My mother came to America in her late 20s and has never shared her stories with me until recently. Since COVID slowly started, she said she felt it in her body that something was about to happen. Her arthritic pain became worse than usual. Her emotions became a bit more guarded and stern. She will only laugh and joke with me when in the house. But once she steps outside the house, or I need to run to the store, she watches every location where I stop through her phone–I saw it on her phone, because she doesnā€™t know how to close the app, LOL! If I am taking longer than the time we agreed on, she calls to check up on me. Would you call this over-protection? No, I would not. I call it a warriorā€™s love.

The guardedness my mom is experiencing today during the COVID outbreak is causing her to have a kind of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience similar to what she lived through in Cambodia. If you have ever watched the ā€œKilling Fields,ā€ or ā€œFirst, They Killed My Fatherā€, those are documentaries of real life experiences of people in Cambodia at that time. She had to hold weapons to defend her family. She had to keep discipline as bullets were whizzing by her ears, as she strategically walked through minefields. She prayed over dead bodies, asking them silent permission to hide among them so she would not be shot or stabbed. She sacrificed her food repeatedly to give to the elderly or children, because there was not enough to go around. She motivated and coached a woman through her labor, because she had to secretly give birth in camp. She knew how to keep open wounds from stabs or bullets clean before people could receive medical care. Once I had to laugh at that last one, as my mom almost faints at the site of blood. But now I understand. With her discipline, she was in command of over 2,000 people, leading them through daily exercise as peace started to come around to the country. Before she was blessed to come to America.

Every story remembered is different, as I sit here watching my cute mama. Donā€™t worry, we are both very content staying in the same house and even the same room for many days since quarantine first began. For the past two years since starting at 911±¬ĮĻ, I have not really seen my mom except in passing before bedtime. I was busy working in the morning and was at school at night. So, we had very few meals together, except sometimes on weekends. And only then if I didnā€™t have a lot of studying to do.

Working in 911±¬ĮĻā€™s Clinic, it has been rewarding to hear and share stories with the veterans and some of the elderly patients, but even more rewarding to be with them through the healing processes they have gone through in this lifetime. We did take for granted each day. We have been too busy to have quality time with our loved ones, focusing solely on work or school.

What are our priorities? Before we went into ā€œlockdown,ā€ mama felt it. As we went shopping, and prepared to shelter in place, she pulled out her secrets from another time to keep us protected. Not drastically but strategically, the silent soldier with a loving warrior who stood guard and remained ready.

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At this moment in time, everyone in the world is aware of coronavirus (COVID-19)…even the cynics among us. Some people may choose to self-quarantine, meaning they do it voluntarily just because they think they may have been exposed, or they are being just cautious. Others are reluctantly complying according to the governor’s and Chicago mayor’s guidelines. I am not going to go into great detail with this, as we can turn on any social media outlet for updates, or just Google world events.

It has come to light how we should all appreciate and enjoy life with our loved ones. How does this interfere with work and school? Many of us are now having to work remotely from home, or for now, have no job at all. Some of us are very fortunate to just take the time to rest, some of us are in stress as our careers need person-to-person interaction, and others of us just go with the flow.

The positions that have no rest are the ones that work in health care. They are the front line of all this, working long hours and caring for others who are not their family members. At 911±¬ĮĻ University, we are very fortunate that most of our classes have converted to an online format. Across both campuses in Illinois and Florida, faculty and students are in cooperation during this event. On bit of a sad note, my graduation will be postponed.

But I am not discouraged at all in this realization. I feel this is a time to take the opportunity to take it easy and enjoy time with family and friends. Yes, we do need to practice social distancing in public and continue with hygiene. I noticed my mom has been happier now that I have started to cook again (apparently I am a good cookā€¦haha). For the moment, I am just sitting here working on my blog and schoolwork online. I didnā€™t realize that I was previously part of the majority of the population that ā€œdidnā€™t have timeā€ or ā€œwas too busy.ā€ While our screen time has increased, itā€™s likely that eventually, that too, will level off.

Hopefully, we can all start to focus on self-healing or self-love more, and not putting ourselves last. In order to care for others, particularly as health care professionals, we need to put ourselves first. As we are healing, so is Mother Nature. Take a moment feel and listen. The birds seem louder, as there are fewer cars on the roads. Look up and notice how the world is doing: the air seems to be cleaner, the oceans are clearer, our hearts are light-filled with laughter, our spirits are higher, and we have the time to enjoy lifeā€¦but with more gratitude than usual.

Time may be an illusion, but it does go by fast. In the blink of an eye, it is gone and will never come back. So, stop procrastinating. Work with time. Donā€™t wait for a crisis to start, startā€”do whatever it is you want to doā€”now.Ā  Spend time with yourself and your loved ones. Cook. Drink. Read. Exercise. Rest. Laugh. Love. And, breathe. Because this crisis too, shall pass.

Stay safe and healthy!

: )

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When you take the first step of a journey, sometimes it is steady, but most times it can be shaky. Eventually, the rhythm of your own path will reveal itself you. There will be pebbles or even stones that block your next step; are you going to stop or move around them? At times there are cracks or craters that you canā€™t avoid or move around, so you pave another route for that path. Thatā€™s your acquired knowledge from your past journeys. You will probably find yourself wondering why it didnā€™t work for you THAT way, but THIS way it did.

Everyone has their own pace, their own time, their own rhythm. Just because someone is ahead of you does not mean you need to keep up with them. If we all were the same, and all the did the same things, the world would not be as unique as it is. There are some very ā€œdifferentā€ people in the world. But who is it to define how we need to be? How we should act? Yes, society has its own standards and we do follow them, but everyone seeks freedom in their own way.

How many times have students changed their career paths, tried other routes, or even ā€œfailedā€? So… you move to the side and assess. Then stand on that foundation again, test to see how strong it is, and keep charging forward!

Even though I started at 911±¬ĮĻ two years ago, the journey wasnā€™t easy. Many times, I wanted to give up. Iā€™ve laughed through the mental exhaustion and cried through the failures, because I was a perfectionist in my own way. Everyone at 911±¬ĮĻ has felt the same way, either multiple times or a million times. But dust it off and move forward! Many of us started together but will end at different times.

We all come down charging in like a snowstorm to conquer the world and get our degrees at 911±¬ĮĻ. But what we do individually and uniquely, will leave different practitioners to address the needs of different patients. So, itā€™s ok to take a step away from the center of it all to gain balance. Allow others to continue their climb up. Eventually, youā€™ll get there in your own ā€œrightā€ time.

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O, boy! I had never had the flu before. The cons of having the flu are being miserable, but the pros are that I lost seven pounds and look amazing! LOL. Because I am being very cautious with my elderly mama (who had a cough for a few weeks) I took her to get checked out. Thankfully, she was negative for the flu or pneumonia. Did that make me feel better? Nope. I still took desperate measures, including buying a humidifier, increasing her supplement and vitamin intakes, increasing her fluid intake, making sure she washed her hands frequently, and ate very well.

Yet a week later we ended up going to the emergency room. We waited in the waiting room filled with coughers and sneezers, people with broken bones, pre-stroke patientsā€¦and after six hours of waiting, she finally got to see a doctor. My mamaā€™s diagnosis? Critically low sodium and needing to be hospitalized for two days.

I had to laugh at this one and of course, I cried a bit. I felt in a way this was my fault. As a health care practitioner who is either in school, or who has been practicing medicine for more than a decade, I did all the things necessary to cross the Tā€™s and dot the Iā€™s. But I did not see this one coming.

My mom was still swabbed negative for any virus on the panel, cleared from pneumonia, and the lab work came out spectacularly negative for flu, or any other ailments for a little ā€™ole Asian lady. Critically low sodium…my mom looked at me through her cute big eyes and knew what she had done. On top of her normal intake of three liters of water, she did not take into account her fluid intake from food or other sources. So basically, she overly hydrated herself and diluted the sodium in her body.

As DC, ND or acupuncture students, we are practicing to be well-rounded practitioners. We ask patients about their diet, habits, current symptoms, and any extra exposure that could contribute to their primary chief complaint. When you go to see any health care practitioner, they perform the same ritual we do at our student clinic on campus at 911±¬ĮĻ. We wash our hands, assess the patient, and then upon leaving the room, we wash our hands again. ā€œHand hygiene is the primary measure proven to be effective in preventing HCAI and the spread of antimicrobial resistance.ā€ But how much preventative action is too much or too little?

I know I took overly extreme measures to protect my mom. (I might as well have put her in a bubble!). I am glad about the knowledge that I have gained from previous experiences as a health care practitioner and that Iā€™m able to utilize my academic and clinical experiences. We all want to be there for our loved ones, as well as those patients who come to us for help.

In the end, the main focusā€”even if we know the outcomes or futureā€”is to let things take their course. A virus took me down, but then it also taught me a lesson: to take a break. I was working long hours, plus going to school and working in the clinic. I forgot to take time for me. So, the universe said rest. And I did.

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Then come the twists and turns, bumps and jolts that keep you craving more. Or, just until you decide that enough is enough. Itā€™s how one perceives the situation. Go on the journey and learn from it, or be fearful of all the sudden movements before it even starts.

When you were a high school junior, you had to begin figuring out which career path to start. I would say maybe about 20 percent of us would have a career path and execute it to perfection, focused on what they want to beā€¦ ā€œa doctorā€. The other 80 percent are either undecided or many times change their major about three times before saying, ā€œletā€™s commitā€. Itā€™s like a discussion of how long does it take to ā€œdateā€ before making it official. Some say three months is enough testing the waters, or decide ā€œletā€™s get to know one anotherā€. Nowadays many do not have time to date, and we have all become very superficial. Judging a person by his or her appearance happens, letā€™s just be real, we all do that. Then it comes to feeling the vibe or the connection. Or, itā€™s love at first sight, and all the feelings of just knowing that this is ā€œthe ONEā€.

Iā€™ve changed my career path multiple times, but it was always within the medical field. First, a physical therapist, because I loved all the learning about body movement therapy exercise with rehabilitation, and relearning the body mechanisms. Then it was nursing, as I have been working within the medical field for over a decade. I wanted to assist with saving lives and make a difference with teams of other health care professionals. Becoming a physicianā€™s assistant is a ā€œcompactā€ version of medical school, taking half the time to pursue that position vs. becoming a doctor.

Whichever career path you choose, choose it for yourself. As my time with 911±¬ĮĻ is getting closer to the end, so is my roller coaster ride. The relationship that I decided to commit to with 911±¬ĮĻ was bumpy, and at times scary, but it will be unforgettable. My decision exactly two years ago before stepping onto campus was a safe decision; it looked nice and serene. I had all the clearing and acceptance of my transcripts, classes registered and all evening classes scheduled with other classmates that I met in the same car of the roller coaster–students dedicated to becoming chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists.

Here and there were jolts of surprises, such as I knew that I needed to put work into studying and not assume all my work was just cut and laid out for me. Itā€™s just like before the roller coaster car starts to move forward: the tracks need to be checked.

The first trimester was the first three months of my relationship, deciding if this was what I was going to commit to. I still held onto the ā€œsafety handleā€ with guidance and support from several academic chairs, professors and classmates. I knew right away it felt ā€œrightā€ sitting in on that first day of class. But when the next trimester ended, I finally let go and took it track by track. Just like the first drop. And then the ups and downs and twists. I donā€™t know what happened, or how I made it to this, my 7th and last trimester of my acupuncture journey. I have to laugh at this one and shake my head, but here I am. I did it. Acupuncture was the one. Acupuncture is the one. I know it in my heart.

No matter which path I considered, physical therapy, nursing, or physicianā€™s assistant, my calling as an acupuncturist is the one. I fell in love with the first needle I touched. I explored and learned more as I signed off on each patient I saw and worked with. I am able to teach and learn from my patients, advising exercises for calming their minds from stress for mental well-being. Addressing physical pains with Tui Na massage, cupping, or take-home stretches. Collaborating and supporting other colleagues who are chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists. It didnā€™t matter the time it took me to finish this career path. We all need to remember to set our own pace and welcome the surprises that come with it, no matter the speed, or drop of the ride.

We made a commitment. We put in the work. We need to be patient. Patient with others and ourselves. There are two sides to everything and whichever side you choose, we all will eventually come to the end of the journey.

Relationships are not one-sided. They are a partnership of giving and receiving. So, we can look back and be proud that we took the first step, hopped in, held on and learned. I gave it my all and I know this will be my forever happily ever after.

: )

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We all run on our own timelines. We will either work with it, or at times against it. When I first started at 911±¬ĮĻ, I worked with it. I had all my classes planned and laid out, I made spreadsheets to follow, and made sure I had the right count down. In actuality, time is not the enemy: itā€™s your perception of time. Be thankful you are still in class, and that you made it to the next level in the program. Be motivated as you are busy in the clinic, because as an intern, being busy is foreshadowing that you will be successful on your own, as a practitioner, in your own practice.

Going back to my very first introductory blog as an acupuncture student, I shared that I had started at 911±¬ĮĻ as fulfilling a wish for my late father. But in reality, it was my path all along, and it has become my foundation of growth. It is a dream I have pursued for myself and no other. I can say choosing acupuncture will not only be a career, but truly my passion, and a path on which I will not become tired.

My best advice: Take the first step and move forward, try not to look too far into the past, and instead learn from the lessons life brings. Donā€™t look too far in the future, for at times it can bring more stress than you should experience. Work with time, it provides guidelines for the future and valuable learning experiences. It may be a few short months until graduation, but in the two-and-a-half years Iā€™ve spent at 911±¬ĮĻ, Iā€™ve been broken and Iā€™ve grown. But most of all, I have learned and healed with the support of peers, professors, and mentors who have turned out to be like family.

So far, 2020 is starting off to be a very good year for me, and I wish the same for you. Sending much love, many blessings, and wishing you abundance in every aspect of your life!

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When you start something, there is often the assumption that the hardest part was just getting started. Many of us procrastinate. Obstacles come up, or something just didnā€™t work out. Itā€™s much like putting together an application for college/university especially medical school, double-checking the list a few times, being focused on having the necessary prerequisites finished and having a strong enough GPA. Then you get that phone call and officiated acceptance letter that you got it…whew! You think the hard part was done but it wasnā€™t.

The next step is starting the program and surviving a grueling (at times) curriculum each trimester. My fellow classmates and I agree the programs are brutal for the DC, ND and AOM programs. But did you realize that if the programs were easy, 911±¬ĮĻ would not be called a medical school? WE are future physicians/clinicians who attend this school. WE hold the reputation of this school. WE had to be hard and discipline ourselves in order to go through these programs. WE hold the honor and status of great health care professionals for ourselves. WE have loved and honored ourselves through this journey so WE can make a difference.

At the end of this week, many of my classmates are walking across the stage, on to one of lifeā€™s great journeys as a health care practitioner. The journey is not just starting and getting to the finish line, but experiencing the steppingstones, speedbumps, lessons, tears and laughter, and the people and the situations through which we supported and healed one another physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, Itā€™s not the destination, it’s the journey.ā€

Happy studying, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, Happy New Decade and Happy celebrations to the graduates; Iā€™ll meet you on the other side of the stage next trimester!

: )

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Merci ā€“ French

ąø‚ąø­ąø‚ąø­ąøšąø„ąøøąø“ (Khob Khun) ā€“ Thai

Cįŗ£m Ę”n bįŗ”n – Vietnamese, or the easy way we understand ā€œthank youā€.

It doesnā€™t matter how many languages my parents spoke to me, or how many I have learned to speak: Khmer (Cambodian), French, Thai, Vietnamese, English or the universal signs of non-verbal language. Since childhood, I was taught (as all well-mannered little people) to say please and thank you. In some cultures, saying please is a sign of begging, but some can also sayā€¦ a sign of weakness.

We discover many things about ourselves in medical school. Finding our strengths and weaknesses is essential for the journey. What does it mean to be weak? ā€œLacking; not strong; liable to yield, break, or collapse under pressure or strain; fragile; frail.ā€ They are just words put together to form more wordsā€¦phrasesā€¦sentences, but in the end understanding. Yes, we may have to go through many ups and downs in stages that can define us as weak. But, if there werenā€™t those stages, how would we know where our strengths are? Where there is strength, there first has to be weakness.

As babies take their first few steps, they are never steady at the beginning. Itā€™s like watching little drunk people trying to find a balance. A few stumbles, crying, crawling and bumps on the noggin or a safe landing with their padded caboose. Touching objects and holding onto things for support. Some need a lot of support and motivation to continue, but some are better especially when no one is watching. As we all have to stand up or fall during the course of our own journeys, perhaps the most important realization is just to get back up. Through the course of life, we find travel companions. There are those who are meant to be with us through different stages of life; if they are meant to be, they will be. The journey may seem far and at times hard, but it depends on your perspective. Effort, time, patience, stamina, and endurance will be the steppingstones you find to help you bridge lifeā€™s crossings.

The most universal language for ā€œthank youā€ is non-verbal. One simple thing can make it great, but when everything comes together, it is very powerful. Look at your one hand. Which finger is the strongest? Now, which is the weakest? Some say the thumb is the strongest and the pinky is the weakest. But look againā€¦when placing your hands in prayer, which finger faces out? The saying from the Bible is: ā€œThe least shall be the greatest among you.ā€Ā  What appears to be weak actually has great strength, and what appears to be strong may actually be weak.

Gratitude is such a beautiful place to be; be present and enjoy your journey!

ā€œAcknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.ā€ – Eckhart Tolle.

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I was raised by hard-working parents who were not too hard on me. My parents came to the U.S. around the late 70s/early 80s during the time when Cambodia had fallen apart, and to this day is still recovering from the genocide. I remember the first time I visited the city of both of my parents; while both were from the same city, they were Yin and Yang as individuals. On my fatherā€™s side, as farmers, all the families were naturally focused on agriculture and the fields. Each day they came home sunburned, leathery in appearance, with muddy and soggy feet from being knee-high in muddy water. There was usually some blood from leeches latching onto their calves, yet they were still smiling, because that was their life and they made the best of it. Out of nine children, my late father was the only one who left his village to go to the city and earn an education as a civil engineer.

On my motherā€™s side, everyone was either a doctor, or business person in conjunction with the government. However, my mother only finished her high school diploma, because she had to support the family. She felt honored that her sister-in-law took her under her wing. She was the second to the youngest of seven children. Every one of her siblings went to school or trained to better their status in the workforce. Each day she was awakened at 3 a.m. to start the process of prepping and cooking dessert delicacies and other special dishes to be sold at the palace.

My parents to me are the total opposite of one another, Yin and Yang opposites that seemed to balance each other. But no matter what, both worked hard as they came to a country that was privileged. They knew what hard work was, and they pushed me to be the best I can be.

I didnā€™t have the experience of waking up too early and getting muddy. Whether those paths may be the same or different from what I have chosen, I know this is my path. 911±¬ĮĻ has given me a reminder and pushed me to be the best version of myself. This past weekend, 50 911±¬ĮĻ students got the chance to go to Standard Process for a kind of field trip. Program-wise we were a mixture of AOM, DC, and ND students.

We kind of migrated every now and then into each otherā€™s groups, but most of the time we ended up staying in our packs. Itā€™s interesting. It was like watching packs of wolves keeping up with one another and having each otherā€™s backs, sitting in the same row or sides, sectioned out. But when it came to food, we all stood in line mixing and matching, then then back to our groups. Whichever path we have chosen in our academic careers, there were a few students who happened to stray and join another group. This is how itā€™s going to be in the real world: We wonā€™t be able to continue to stay in our groups but will eventually work with and collaborate with others to treat our patients.

As my parents were on opposite sides of the same country and came together in the U.S., so the students on the field trip stayed with one another yet eventually migrated to other groups. Yet we all work together. Everyone is unique and therefore valuable according to their upbringing, history, and education. I love different cultures, collaborations, and ideas to push for a better health care system.

It was a great reminder that I am not only in a program with amazing students with my same focus, but part of a larger group of future colleagues who will come together for the healing of our patients. We are an eclectic group. Even a little crazy at times. The world better be ready for us!

: )

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