Mark Graduates...but don't get too excited, we still have one more year...will it ever end?

I don't really think Mark wanted me to write about this, but I think he deserves a pat on the back and I want him to know that I think he is AMAZING!

Mark graduated from his Radiology Residency and passed his board exams! I cannot tell you how proud I am of this guy! He has worked his tail off the last 5 years and has done such an amazing job of balancing his work and his family. I clearly remember Mark making the decision to do radiology so that he would have more time to spend with his family. While he would have loved to have done surgery, he chose radiology because he loved his family. That is why I'm so happy that he now gets to start his fellowship training in interventional radiology. In this sub-specialty of radiology he gets to do procedures on patients guided by imaging equipment. It is such a great compromise between the more relaxed schedule of radiology and the gratification of getting to work directly with patients and being able to go in and "fix" people. Mark originally became a doctor because he really wanted to have an impact on people and really help them. As his wife I think that I lost sight of that part of his work the last 5 years. Whenever he went to work I mostly just felt sad that he was not with us and, yes, even somewhat resentful that work took up more of his time than I wanted to give up. This past weekend Mark has been on house-call, essentially for the first time. Before when he was on-call, it was always hospital-call, so he was just gone at the hospital like he would be for a normal work day. Now he is at home with us on the weekend, but his pager will go off and he will have to call in. I'm sure it all seems routine to him, but for me I am getting a much different perspective on what it is he does. For instance, the first call he got was for him to go in to help someone who was likely going to die. He didn't give me any details but he did mention that his efforts might be futile, and that the patient would likely die anyway. I'm emberassed to admit it, but the ugly thought crossed my mind that maybe they would and then Mark wouldn't have to go in. No sooner did the thought cross my mind than I thought to myself that I must be the most selfish person in the world! I am so used to resenting anyone taking up Mark's time that it was an automatic reaction for me. Since that call I have done some serious soul searching and I feel so grateful that there are medical personnel all over the world that give up so much time to help others. It was humbling for me to realize that it is selfish for me to resent Mark leaving when often people's lives depend on it. If it were me or someone in my family, I would be so grateful that someone was there ready to answer their pager, even if it was in the middle of their time with their family.

Congratulations Mark! You're the best husband and father and I love you!