Almost two weeks ago Leona sat for her final board exam. Her experience was difficult to say the least.
She had to get up early to be at the testing center on time which ended up being more than an hour before the actual start of the exam. After the exam started, a proctor hassled her about her jacket which she took off because of the rising temperature in the room. She wanted to keep it with her because she feared the temperature would change again but was told she had to wear it or leave it outside. After some debate, she convinced the proctor to allow her to drape it over her shoulders.
Razzled, she kept an eye on the only restroom accessible to all of the test-takers. Someone had been in there a while and her baby-compressed bladder was quite clear it desired her turn.
Once relieved, and settled back into the exam, the polite proctor-lady returned. "You can't have your foot up on the chair," she curtly explained. This happens to be Leona's favorite position. But alright, the test must go on!
After another restroom break or two, having fought off a crowd each time, a new proctor interrupts her. He asks that she either put her jacket all the way on or remove it from the room. She protests again that the temperature fluctuates so badly that she requires it on and off intermittently and that an exception was already given her to do so. The proctor doesn't budge. "Fine!" she says, "you can have it." "No," he replies, "you'll have to take it out yourself."
Leona eventually finished the exam but not before the contractions started. They became fairly regular and strong. Fortunately the next day she had already planned to visit her OB. Her doctor agreed that she would need to keep an eye on it and prescribed some medication. Then, within a few days, her surgery rotation started.
All that to say, her contractions have lightened up a bit but we ask for your prayer. What will probably prove to be her toughest rotation left ends Friday. We pray that the baby might survive this last bit of residency and that Leona passed her board exam (a requirement for Nepal.)
She had to get up early to be at the testing center on time which ended up being more than an hour before the actual start of the exam. After the exam started, a proctor hassled her about her jacket which she took off because of the rising temperature in the room. She wanted to keep it with her because she feared the temperature would change again but was told she had to wear it or leave it outside. After some debate, she convinced the proctor to allow her to drape it over her shoulders.
Razzled, she kept an eye on the only restroom accessible to all of the test-takers. Someone had been in there a while and her baby-compressed bladder was quite clear it desired her turn.
Once relieved, and settled back into the exam, the polite proctor-lady returned. "You can't have your foot up on the chair," she curtly explained. This happens to be Leona's favorite position. But alright, the test must go on!
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| 4/28: Week 22 |
After another restroom break or two, having fought off a crowd each time, a new proctor interrupts her. He asks that she either put her jacket all the way on or remove it from the room. She protests again that the temperature fluctuates so badly that she requires it on and off intermittently and that an exception was already given her to do so. The proctor doesn't budge. "Fine!" she says, "you can have it." "No," he replies, "you'll have to take it out yourself."
Leona eventually finished the exam but not before the contractions started. They became fairly regular and strong. Fortunately the next day she had already planned to visit her OB. Her doctor agreed that she would need to keep an eye on it and prescribed some medication. Then, within a few days, her surgery rotation started.
All that to say, her contractions have lightened up a bit but we ask for your prayer. What will probably prove to be her toughest rotation left ends Friday. We pray that the baby might survive this last bit of residency and that Leona passed her board exam (a requirement for Nepal.)
this is really intense! i'm amazed Leona.
ReplyDeletethis reminds me of my AP bio teacher, who would make us suffer away by turning the AC on high, his theory that it might be really cold when we took the AP test so we would be conditioned to think about biology problems while cold.
ReplyDeleteUPDATE: Leona's contractions have lessened in intensity though they still continue. We continue to cherish your prayers for her with only about 1 month left of residency!
ReplyDelete