David Graff – davidgraff.com Today with Dave, Downunder it's Thursday, March 28th, 2024 @ 11:21 PM

2011: Some things are different, some are the same

So it is well into February and so much has happened this year that I suppose it’s time to make a post to acknowledge it.  My holiday was filled with family and friends, my new nieces, my nephews, and my siblings and their partners.  It was so great to be home.  Busy, which is funny to think, because everyone else was working, raising kids, generally accomplishing things, while all I had to do was hang out with them.  But still, it was a lot of it, and I’m so thankful for the people back home.

After the longest break of my degree, I have returned to Australia.  Upon arrival I spent a quick weekend recovering from the travel and time change, and then headed to Brisbane for Ophthalmology at The Royal.  I don’t really know why, but despite being stationed in Nambour, I have the first half of this rotation in Brisbane (a 1.5-3 hour drive, depending on traffic).  So, I am living at King’s College again.  I lived here when I was looking for an apartment in 2009, that’s why some things feel different, and some things feel the same.  Same sweaty nights, same mosquitoes waking me up at 4 am.  All part of the process I suppose.  And when you think about all the things I have sacrificed for this crazy journey, this is just another small piece.

Right now I am on Cardiac surgery at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, which is pretty neat.  Yesterday I watched an 11 hour procedure, which involved a double bypass, an ascending aorta graft and an aortic valve replacement. The patient did not breathe, had no pulse, no circulation, no bypass pump, no brain activity…  for 80 minutes.  To accomplish this, the patient was cooled to 18 degrees C!  Then when we were done, they simply reversed everything, and the heart started to beat again and they closed up, and we went home!  Crazy.

Anyways, I am going to get to sleep, since I’ve had long days, early starts and short nights lately.

One Response to “2011: Some things are different, some are the same”

  1. Hey Dave…sounds good for you, it was great to see you…in Canada! Its good to be here with you, nice to know there is family on the continent…knowing you’re here makes things feel alright! Love ya.

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