Kids will be kids

Today I had my first pediatric clinical skills session and I was really nervous for some reason. I mean, I love kids but parents are scary... and I threw away that naive notion of being a pediatrician a long time ago and I didn't want to be drawn to the field again and change my mind again.

I should have known that when my friend Shayna who is now teaching at a private math school told me that her grade 1 students drew her lots of pictures and made mazes for her that it was a sign I would just love today, and indeed I did.

The first patient was a 16-year-old male who was being followed for his bicuspid aortic valve (normally, the valve should have 3 three leaflets and those who are born with two need to be monitored in case bad things happen in adulthood). He had the confidence and exuberance all 16-year-olds have - it's that age where you feel so mature and you feel like you've figured the world out (been there, done that... little did I know at age 16!) He was so polite and his parents were great too.

I got the chance to interview the second patient who also happened to have a congenital bicuspid aortic valve but he was 9-years old. He was the cutest thing. He came in with his mom and two younger sisters and on review of systems when I asked him if he had any tummy pains recently, he said "no, only when my sister punches me in the stomach". When I finished the history and physical, I said I would return with my preceptor, Dr. Smythe and then the kids asked, "Dr. Who?" and I repeated, "Dr. Smythe". Then they answered, "Dr. Smyth?!? Hahahah, Dr. Smiley! Dr. Smiley!"

Kids crack me up. Wouldn't it be great to go to work everyday and have this much fun? Except wouldn't it be awful if a child was in a social situation you had no control over or a child died in your care? I don't think I could handle it... if only I could be stronger in that respect.