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is the Hippocratic oath. Here’s a modern translation of it.

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism. I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and
that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.

I will not be ashamed to say “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery. I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

 

 

 

 

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I made it. The Almighty God whom I adore, granted me His grace to complete medical school. It’s not my works… at all, but a display of His grace upon my life. I definitely, most truthfully, can tell you that, after ALL the experiences I’ve been through.

He deserves all the praises I received. Not me. Truly not me.

Wow. This is the end of it. Completely not how I envisioned it and the feeling of its finality really hasn’t quite sunk in.

We had to take an oath yesterday after our results were released. Although similar to the Hippocratic oath, many changes have been made to make it more IMU. Three of us didn’t make it. It’s a very difficult pill to swallow, but I just got to believe there is a purpose in it. There has to be if I believe in a God who orchestrates the universe into being and it is in Him that everything holds together. Gotta pray for strength and comfort for them.

Just wanted to say a big, huge THANK YOU to all my beloved family and friends who have endlessly supported me through prayers and encouraging words. You all are my pillars and all of your support drove me to carry on in the moments when it seemed unbearable.

To Him be all glory and honour!

my life

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" — Paul the Apostle

It is now my goal to make this true…
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" — Lydia Lee

I want it to be so recognizable in me that it can be my epitaph, engraved on my tombstone.
To those of you who might be around when I die, do remind that to whoever’s handling my funeral.

You never let go

I couldn’t help but put this up…because it fit in so well with all that I had spoken about storms of life and fear. We sung this today at WinGS and I truly thank God that He never let go of me amidst the troubles I’ve been through. I could have been in a much worse state… I know. It is only through His grace that I’m still here and alive. People can disappoint and not be there, but God promises to be ever faithful.

“You never let go” by Matt Redman.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near 

 

 

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

 

 

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

 

 

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you.
Do not be dismayed for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Had also observed that 1 John 4:18, BOTH appeared as verse of the day for me on my blog and on facebook yesterday. Don’t know if they came from the same database (I hadn’t noticed it before) but even last night, I picked up my little book titled "Bible verses for the Graduate", I stumbled upon this very same one over and over.
It spoke volumes to me about fear and love.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

Exams exams exams…

Chest pain, periodic palpitations, anxiety. Differential diagnosis, anyone?

Exams exams exams!!

My dad was super kind to allow me to use one of his spare computer monitors for my study time. So since last week, I’ve been functioning on two monitors, which means I should work efficiently twice as much…but it doesn’t quite feel like it. Sigh. Exam’s coming in a week. Mixed feelings…can’t quite exactly describe it well. hmm.. I don’t know. Sort of very numb-ish?

Anyway, here’s just to show you my study ‘haven’ where I spend roughly about 6-7 hours every weekday supposedly studying.
Keyword: SUPPOSEDLY. Sigh. It hasn’t been going as fast and as well as I had hoped it to be. Need your prayers, people!!

j

Smile at the Storm

Recently, I was reminded of a Sunday School song which I absolutely loved as kid (especially when it was turned into a game), which I realized was somewhat similar to Praise You In This Storm. It goes like this..

With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm, smile at the storm, smile at the storm
With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm as we go sailing home

Sailing, sailing home, sailing, sailing home
With Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm as we go sailing home!

The more and more I thought about the song and its lyrics, it dawned upon me that such a simple and fun children’s song was packed with so much of Bible truth…and the kind of truth most difficult to swallow in really tough times. I mean, think about it..tell a bunch of Sunday School kids that Jesus is with you and in the face of a big storm… and you can still smile through it all. Sure, that would be easy for children. What is storm to them, but bouts of thunder and lightning and heavy downpour of rain? Now, smiling definitely won’t be so easy in the face of life’s storms – sicknesses, financial crisis, economic slump, political instability, upset within the family equilibrium, backstabbing from friends, stress from exams (which I should really be getting stressed for!!), uncertainty of the future, career obstacles, depression, rejection…just to name a few. Can one really smile in the face of all that?

…

Yes.

With Christ in the vessel.

It will be hard… but possible.

Had a difficult moment recently and singing this simple song lifted me from the dark pit, reminding me that with Christ within me, even with falling tears and a broken spirit, I can still smile at the storm – because whether the storm keeps me or breaks me, I know my final destination anyway.

Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You, Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:7-8

Romans 8:28

Verse of the day:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.

Be Thou My Vision

Was playing some tunes on the piano yesterday and found myself playing the melody to one of my most favourite hymn. This beautiful song with its powerful words and Irish tunes just never cease to grip my heart and cause tears to fall. It was a tough day and just singing it and allowing the song to sink through really helped. Thought I should share it here and perhaps you could be uplifted too.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

SAD

“Single Awareness Day”

This is what my friend told me February 14 actually really celebrates…and y’know, I completely agree with him! There is no other day that the notion of being single stands out ever so strongly, except on Valentine’s, reminding singles every minute of their pitiful depressed state of being alone when couples go out to celebrate.

I’m not trying to be cynical about the whole ordeal of romance and the day where people can profess their love, but really, one has to admit that it is annoying to those who are single! Y’know, I don’t even know what I’m trying to ramble about here…

ANYWAY, to those of you who are single and just need help to get through the day, I found a Survival Guide for being Single on Valentine’s Day.

1 Do not define yourself by your relationship status. Your relationship status is not your identity.

2. If you are single because of a recent loss, allow this to be a day of grieving. Do not pretend that it’s not a hard day. Get support and sympathy.

3. Realize that Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday. It is not about love and relationships; it is about selling flowers, candy, and diamond jewelry. Think of all the money you are saving.

4. Plan well in advance to do something that will not place you in the path of billing and cooing couples. Even if you usually like dining out alone, do something else on Valentine’s Day.

5. Get together with people who do love you — friends, family members, the people who already have relationships with you.

6. If you are single and you don’t want to be, start now to think about what is in the way of you creating the relationship you want. Find ways to work on becoming the person your dream partner would fall in love with. Start therapy. Take up yoga. Begin to volunteer. Create art. Make meaning. Act to change the world. It is into the fullest lives that love is most likely to fall.

7. If you are single and you like it, now is the time to affirm your choice. People who never marry or partner have close, loving, emotionally intimate relationships and lives worth living. Do not let a couple-driven culture define your choice as something wrong.

It’s funny the things people do and think to mask the fact that they are single on Valentine’s Day.
But I shan’t continue to spoil the true meaning of this lovely day to those out there who have been looking forward to Feb 14 to celebrate your love…
If that is you, Happy Valentine’s Day!

To the rest of us (yes, I’m proudly and hopelessly one), let’s celebrate our singleness! ….. (yeah right!)