BajaNomad

UPDATE -***FULL CIRCLE - CHIEF RESIDENT OPERATES ON UNCLE ALEX - The Little Girl Who Woluld Become a Brain Surgeon (Chapter 4...

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EngineerMike - 7-13-2013 at 10:26 PM

Egvbuckovecs@gmail.com is the email that should have been cited by Maxx
I haven't received an acknowledgement on my PayPal donation to the other address yet but I will verify that email address when/if I get one.

In the mean time, feel free to PayPal to the Gmail address several times each day.

[Edited on 7-14-2013 by EngineerMike]

HOLD UP EVERYBODY>>>>I PUT THE WRONG ADDRESS FOR PAYPAL

akmaxx - 7-13-2013 at 11:15 PM

I changed three years of posts and somewhere in the beginning to the end I switched gmail for hotmail.....let me correct it definitively.

egvbuckovecs@gmail.com

Sorry for the mistake. Don't take it out on Emilia.

EngineerMike - 7-14-2013 at 09:16 AM

Somehow the EDIT button is missing for me on my earlier post or I'd take down the mention of the errant hotm--l address mentioned above.

So the official PayPal account email address is
egvbuckovecs@gmail.com

and let the well deserved donating begin!!!

wsdunc - 7-15-2013 at 09:45 AM

She has my donation. I try to gather anything good which passes my way and she is a ray of sunlight.

EnsenadaDr - 7-15-2013 at 09:55 AM

I'm surprised they allow her to wear that much eye makeup in the operating room.
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNomad

chuckie - 7-15-2013 at 10:01 AM

Meow!

Emilia is in La Paz right now on her way back to Mulege

akmaxx - 7-17-2013 at 10:07 AM

She could use the break because she will be hard at it next semester.

Thanks for all the support. Everybody here has made a great contribution to a worthy cause.

Peace,

Paying It Forward

Mulegena - 7-17-2013 at 10:29 AM

I'm in for my continuing investment in Emilia's future.

As always with her it's an investment in the betterment of the world, for she is absolutely a world-class young lady and doctor-in-the-making! Whatever we can do to help Emilia achieve her goals will help everywhere.

Max, please let her know that I want to see her while she's in Mulege. I'll give her my donation hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart. Also, please let her know she's welcome to stay with us in our new home here in Loma Azul. My home is hers... she's had my heart for a long time.

Mulegena

EnsenadaDr - 7-18-2013 at 10:36 AM

Glad to see she is taking into consideration the USMLE material and tutoring it which is probably the best way to learn it. After 8 months, I am getting a good hold on the material but still need a little more to go to make up for what I was never taught. She is starting early so that is good and will help guarantee her success in a US slot for residency.

BajaHombre - 7-30-2013 at 07:27 AM

Bump

I just made my small contribution to support Emi's education.

EngineerMike - 7-31-2013 at 06:04 AM

I saw Emi last Monday afternoon at her family's property in Loma Azul (the family restaurant is gone at this point, as it was knocked down in the flooding from Hurricane Paul), and presented her with a copy of the book BLINK on behalf of sponsors who have donated to her support thru our Program. With her interest in the physiology & functioning of the brain, that seemed like an excellent fit. And as a well written piece it is also an excellent exercise in English which will be seriously important in a U.S. residency.

Emi was relaxing and soaking up some much deserved family time.

Mulegena - 7-31-2013 at 08:39 AM

Sorry I missed you, Mike. Would love to get together when you're next in town.

You'll be pleased to know that Emi is already reading the book. She's also helping me to refine my Spanish; its always a delight to be in her charming company; she is a confident and natural-born teacher, imo, truly a Renaissance Woman.

She'll be here with her family for a while longer, but as always will be back in school when her birthday occurs later this month. She's quite a girl and says her routine is to sleep in the afternoon and awaken at 9-10 pm to socialize a bit then hit the books until its time for school the next morning. The professors can't figure out how she's so bright so early in the morning-- its because she's been up all night! She takes her coffee straight-up, strong and black to put hair on her chest, btw!
Quote:
Originally posted by EngineerMike
I saw Emi last Monday afternoon at her family's property in Loma Azul (the family restaurant is gone at this point, as it was knocked down in the flooding from Hurricane Paul), and presented her with a copy of the book BLINK on behalf of sponsors who have donated to her support thru our Program. With her interest in the physiology & functioning of the brain, that seemed like an excellent fit. And as a well written piece it is also an excellent exercise in English which will be seriously important in a U.S. residency.

Emi was relaxing and soaking up some much deserved family time.

jbcoug - 7-31-2013 at 09:23 AM

I will be traveling through with a fellow nomad in a couple weeks. Wil Emi still be there, I'd love to meet her?

John

jbcoug - 7-31-2013 at 09:35 AM

I will be traveling through with a fellow nomad in a couple weeks. Wil Emi still be there, I'd love to meet her?

John

EngineerMike - 7-31-2013 at 09:25 PM

JB- head thru Mulege under the arch & heading East toward Loma Azul (ask if you think you are getting lost). Just before you get to the beach you will see a fresh mound of sand on the left with a driveway up to a palapa under construction. Head up and past the palapa to the south. You will find Emi's home at the end of the driveway. It'll take you maybe 15 minutes off the highway, 30 round trip plus an interesting chat if Emi is home.

BajaBlanca - 8-15-2013 at 06:31 AM

I have passed that message onto her. It seems like a really good idea to split up the tests and I bet she didnt even know about that.

she is back in guadalajara as of yesterday.

Mulegena - 8-15-2013 at 06:45 AM

Yep, I was glad to see her again this summer and hated to see her leave so soon. She's such a bright, shining star; wherever she goes lightens and lights up.

Oh, and Everybody, let's all post Emilia birthday wishes. She turns 22 on the 19th of this month, that'd be this coming Monday.

Emi, wishing you the best of the best in life, much, much happiness and goodwill to grace your life this coming year. You make this world a better and brighter place! Abrazos, mi amiga. Con amor, Maria

wilderone - 8-16-2013 at 07:37 AM

ME TOO - "Emi, wishing you the best of the best in life, much, much happiness and goodwill to grace your life this coming year. You make this world a better and brighter place! Abrazos, mi amiga. Con amor,"

y feliz compleanos

cindi

BajaBlanca - 8-16-2013 at 02:17 PM

Feliz cumple Emilia !!!!! Muy happy birthday !

The USMLE Step 1 exam and Step 2

EnsenadaDr - 8-18-2013 at 03:57 AM

The USMLE Step 1 costs $800 American Dollars to take. Step 2 I believe is over $1000. You cannot take them both together, by the way. I would start spreading the message out to collect donations for her Step 1.
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
I have passed that message onto her. It seems like a really good idea to split up the tests and I bet she didnt even know about that.

she is back in guadalajara as of yesterday.

Just to let you know that she is doing fine and is actually starting to cut on people.....

akmaxx - 10-6-2013 at 03:37 PM

This adventure has come a long, long, way and Emi is even more enthusiastic now than when she started. She wields her scalpel now along with her knowledge.......

Que bueno y gracias a todos.

Paz,

jbcoug - 10-7-2013 at 07:13 AM

This has been, and will continue to be an amazing story! I*'m so glad that we get to follow along.

John

EnsenadaDr - 10-7-2013 at 08:50 PM

I wonder if she is in her internship. During that time before your last year of residency, you have to assist in surgeries every third day for a whole year. After all the degree is Medico Cirujano, or Medical Surgical Doctor.

EngineerMike - 10-7-2013 at 09:17 PM

When I discussed it in early August with Emi, she said this year would be "clinics" starting with cardio & pulmonary iirc, then rolling thru other system's & doing quizzes every few days as the various cases present. I believe the specialists in each area manage each "clinic."
She was sad that the clinic schedule along with studying for US exams means no more teaching anatomy. But it is what it is, and things change over time and this is the next progression professionally.

EnsenadaDr - 10-8-2013 at 07:09 AM

Yes, usually in the clinics though you don't start doing surgery extensively until you get into your internship. Cardiology and pulmonary classes are usually given in the last few years of your formal schooling before you graduate. Then you go on to your internship and social service. The internship is where you start seriously training in surgery. I am glad she is concentrating more on the US exam preparation, it is a doozie and tell her I said to start with the Kaplan videos. That is essential before any bookwork. All this requires money to live on and unless you are wealthy or have a good system of support it is virtually impossible to get through medical school in Mexico.

Update.......

akmaxx - 10-15-2013 at 11:14 AM

Most of Emilia's patrons receive this update directly to their emails but I know some of you donated anonymously and she can't email her progress and thanks........so this is for you:

What other near-teen do you know that is excited about studying colon cancer?????????

Emilia will be an excellent doctor thanks to you all.

Peace,

____________________________________


I’m very well; I have been studying a lot and learning so much about so many different medical specialties!

My first parts it’s been surgical clinics, we are given a schedule with different week activities in every service (or most of them) in the hospital, so in the morning we attend class with an specialist and after that we go to the hospital and shadow a doctor who ask questions about what we learn earlier in class, if they see you are good they may let you do minimum procedures, like the other day I got to do my first rectal exam in a patient with colon cancer, they let you watch surgery and quiz you about it, but they also answer all your questions about what they are doing.

Life in hospital is so different, there are so many good doctors, some others aren´t all that great, some residents really try to guide you and teach you what they know, some are just mean and rude, and getting lost in the hallways has just become part of the everyday life, yet you take all the good you can and forget about the bad, they also teach you, they teach you what you shouldn’t become in order to be a great doctor.

I have been amazed at how exiting some specialties are, like traumatology and orthopedics is so exciting and so much more than just bones! Or urology (I’m currently taking this one) you learn so much about kidneys, about urinary tracks, just so much!

Thank you for all your constant help, I have been thinking about you a lot, everyday, I thank you because thanks to you I get to lean all this, to do all of this, you are amazing, you are and will always be my angel! I pray that god gives you all the best in life because you sure deserve it! Thank you, you are changing my life, and I can´t thank you enough for that!

Well, is time I go back to my reading! Have a blessed week!

Sincerely,

Emilia

EngineerMike - 10-15-2013 at 01:04 PM

This is another thoroughly excellent report. Our money is well invested.:bounce:

7th semester Xmas update....Gracias a todos

akmaxx - 12-26-2013 at 08:11 PM

First of all I want to which you happy holidays! May your soul be filled with love and joy from those around you and yourself! I am sorry for the delay in updating you but I am working in the hospital through Christmas holidays instead of taking a break.

I happily inform you that I have successfully completed my 7th semester of medical school and with eleven surgical clinics my overall grade was… yes! A+ but I have not gotten my medical clinics grades yet because of the holiday breaks(the school office is closed until January 6th) but for what I remember it should be A+ as well.

Like I told you before the seventh semester was a bit different from the ones before because of all the clinic hours but in my personal experience it was so much better! Honestly I loved it. Clinics helped me see most of the medical specialties up close and helped me decide on whether or not it will be good to specialize in one of them.

From the medical specialties (there were also surgical specialties, yes most of them rocked!) I truly loved endocrinology! “The study of the medical aspects of hormones, including diseases and conditions associated with hormonal imbalance, damage to the glands that make hormones, or the use of synthetic or natural hormonal drugs. An endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the management of hormone conditions.” And it can be messy, because it is messy and also probably why I like it so much, most of the patients that we met that week had thyroid disease, long story short of course I got an A+ (happy happy happy).

Then there was nephrology, I liked it, yet it was a love-hate relationship (and I’m laughing so hard as I’m saying this ) but it can be so easy and then it can be so hard, is like you think you have it all figured out and the you miss the smallest thing and boom! You have one big mess (to break it down is just like man say arguing with woman is: you think you are winning and then suddenly not only you are losing but it is your entire fault!) well same thing with my Emmy-kidney relationship, yet (and maybe because I’m a women hum) I bet! And got an A+! not without endless nights and my eyes almost giving up, but we made it!

I had ER class too, it was amazing and has always been an option for specialty, in fact I think trauma surgery is a great option, but I will decide that when the time is right.

I hope you are still with me in this journey; I really appreciate all you have done to me over the years. You are like my year-round Santa Claus guardian angel and my family and I appreciate it because you have made the impossible possible!

Your words of encouragement and Paypal support through egvbuckovecs@hotmail.com has allowed me to focus on school to achieve the highest possible grades and dedicate every spare moment to hands-on volunteer work that converts the classroom learning into real world actions.

And here I´m in medical school learning how to try and hopefully change the life of others. I cannot make it without you! So thank you again!

Marry Christmas and happy new year!

Sincerely,

La casi Doctora Emilia Villavicencio Buckovecs

BajaBlanca - 12-26-2013 at 09:43 PM

She just astounds me. This woman is simply brilliant. Go Emi!

BajaNomad - 12-26-2013 at 10:37 PM

Both of the following were posted on her personal FB page 4 days ago:
Quote:






...and...
Quote:


amazing things happen everyday! all I ever wish for is to be part of this amazing change!






:smug:




[Edited on 12-27-2013 by BajaNomad]

EngineerMike - 1-14-2014 at 03:58 PM

Sent Emy some PayPal bucks today. Got an interesting (new) response from paypal; along w/some voluminous, lawyerly regulatory schmaltz, comes this-
Rate of Exchange: If this transaction involves a currency conversion, there will be an exchange rate shown above. This exchange rate includes a 2.5% spread above the wholesale exchange rate at which PayPal obtains foreign currency, and the spread is retained by PayPal. If and when the Recipient chooses to withdraw these funds from the PayPal System, and if the withdrawal involves a currency conversion, the Recipient will convert the funds at the applicable currency exchange rate at the time of the withdrawal, and the Recipient may incur a withdrawal fee.

So per $100 you want Emy to receive, send ~$105 to cover the exchanges. Should put you in the ball park.
Hope this helps, thanks.

taoswheat - 1-14-2014 at 04:47 PM

I sent a small donation but no mention of exchange- maybe because I sent US dollars?
akmaxx- be sure to let us know if more is needed.
Thanks

Thanks to the generous folks from the Mulege Fishing Tournament

akmaxx - 4-23-2014 at 03:40 PM

Another necessity obtained by the budding surgeon. Thanks to everybody involved with the Mulege Fishing Tournament for your generosity in providing this physicians diagnostic kit for la doctora Emilia.



She will put kit and all of the donations from all her generous angels to good use. Hard to believe it has been three and a half years of intense study and great grades to come to the point where she can wield a scalpel.



Cheers,

BajaBlanca - 4-23-2014 at 03:46 PM

Simply brilliant!

EnsenadaDr - 5-7-2014 at 05:34 AM

If you send the money as a gift, there is no charge on Paypal.
Quote:
Originally posted by EngineerMike
Sent Emy some PayPal bucks today. Got an interesting (new) response from paypal; along w/some voluminous, lawyerly regulatory schmaltz, comes this-
Rate of Exchange: If this transaction involves a currency conversion, there will be an exchange rate shown above. This exchange rate includes a 2.5% spread above the wholesale exchange rate at which PayPal obtains foreign currency, and the spread is retained by PayPal. If and when the Recipient chooses to withdraw these funds from the PayPal System, and if the withdrawal involves a currency conversion, the Recipient will convert the funds at the applicable currency exchange rate at the time of the withdrawal, and the Recipient may incur a withdrawal fee.

So per $100 you want Emy to receive, send ~$105 to cover the exchanges. Should put you in the ball park.
Hope this helps, thanks.

A long letter (get your coffee and your Kleenex) and update from La Neurosurgeon - She is living her dream thanks to you.

akmaxx - 6-22-2014 at 08:49 AM

Emi is fantastic and is taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded by many generous nomads. I had confidence in her abilities but sometimes it takes luck as well and she has had that recently by being in close contact the best neurosurgeon in the world......read the update. Amazing.

You can help fund the next installment of "Lets Make a Neurosurgeon" by hitting paypal at egvbuckovecz@gmail.com


:bounce:

Peace,

Maxx.


I would love to tell you a little about me and where we are in the medical school journey so far, as you know to become a general practitioner “medico cirujano y partero” is what the title says anyway, it takes 6 years, Medical school in known to be the longest, hardest and most expensive career there is, therefore it was “crazy” for me, little Mulegina girl, with a little town education (which I in fact deem to be wonderful) an very little or better yet no family economic support to aspire to it, to become a doctor, to move to a very big city, to one of the top universities of the country and study there, but then there was YOU! That’s right YOU reading this, Mr. Maxx and you believed in me, and you decided that you could make a change in this world, that yyou can spare a little and change somebody’s life in the hope of by her changing many others. A little girl whose dream is to become a neurosurgeon, do you remember that story? Well, we have come so far I just want to share with you our current status and a few exciting facts…

Our journey began in august of 2010, almost four years ago, I was not immediately able to get into the public program and you helped me raise enough money to pay for the private one for a year, I tried again and got accepted, but still books, transportation, housing, and all living expenses were more than I could handle, so you have been making very generous donations to keep this ship floating, well you might remember the fun and the struggles of medical school, it feels like it just started yesterday, first semester, away from home for the first time, becoming an adult, having more responsibility than ever, cleaning, cooking, studying, attending school, paying bills, more and more studying, more than I have ever studied in my life! And a little more, white clothes that ALWAYS get absolutely dirty, I wear white almost every day still, I’m better at it now I like to think..

The first four years consist in what they call theoretical training, you attend class, take note, have exams and some practice, especially during the 8th semester the “preinternship” where you are almost an intern, except you are not, that is something about medicine, you always feel like you are almost a doctor and in many ways you are but you also always an student, there is just so much to know and medicine can be so specialize, it takes forever it seems, still im really enjoying the journey J, so you take those four years of theoretical training and then you become an intern, internship I´ve heard is the hardest, most difficult, most beautiful and rewarding year for every doctor, you work very hard for a year, and you are in a place where you are so new and know so little compared to you fellow residents and attending, but at the same time you are expected to learn it all in the time you spend in every service. Its good and I’m really looking forward to it, is time to become a doctor, to take responsibility, to start doing your first procedures, but like I said you are also still a student therefor you do not get paid, you pretty much work for the hospital for free because you cant take full responsibility as a doctor, you are still training.

But, where do you go for it?

Coming to Guadalajara to become a doctor was one of the best things that could have happen to me and its all thanks to you, but why do I say is one of the best things? Well the University of Guadalajara is known to be one of the places where they train some of the best doctor of the country this is because we get to practice a lot, we get very amazing clinical training, they offer some of the best hospitals in the country as our training hospitals.

I had to decide what hospital to go for my internship, and the decision its been made: Hospital Civil Fray Antonio Alcalde. Let me tell you a little bit about it, this hospital was founded 220 years ago by a Fray his name Antonio, it was built under the promise “ a la humanidad doliente” (to the hurting humanity), this is now the biggest hospital in Mexico and hosts over a thousand beds, it offers the most certified programs and has amazing both medical and surgical residency programs, it is one of the 12 centers in the country that offer neurosurgery training (7 in Mexico city, 3 in Guadalajara and 2 in Monterey are the only certified teaching hospitals for neurosurgery).

It has 250 interns every year and the staff is a total of over five thousand employees, nurses, doctors, physiologist, social workers, and many many more.

Tomorrow I will be choosing my rotation for the first six months and Im both nervous and exited, mostly just exited, I want one that starts with neurosurgery, I can’t wait to be there! Plus and here is a very funny thing that happened (didn’t seem funny at the time). I went to Baja to see my family after a year, I was really looking forward to visiting with them, to giving personal thank you to the fishing tournament committee who last semester made a very generous donation for me to buy a diagnosis kit and stethoscope that will be very much needed and helpful every day, and all the Mulege wonderful people who I could find and who have been so amazing during all this years, but after a day of beautiful Mulege I got a call from my friend who was going to take care of thing for me in Guadalajara as I was away and she told me that the secretary from school had made a mistake and that I had to go back to Guadalajara immediately or I could end up in a very small and not so good hospital, so after only aa day and a half I had to very sadly pack all my staff up and say goodbye to Mulege, I knew about the fishing tournament that was going on and I was looking forward to joining everybody to say thank you but I couldn’t and I apologize for that even though it was out of my control, I flew back to Guadalajara and Monday morning (very early) I was at the school office fixing the little secretary’s messed up, I was very sad to leave home so suddenly and felt like it was more a dream about going that actually going, it took a week for it to be fixed and during that week I was keeping myself busy in the school helping update the manuals we use for the classes I used to teach ( Im naively hoping to keep on teaching this year but my boss knows have naïve that idea is so Im just going to be a backup instructor and visit and help when I get a little time off). Anyway, that week a friend called me and says this:

Hey Emy, how are you? I answered: well Im pretty upset about the whole hospital thing but Im keeping myself busy in the lab and trying not to overthink it, she said: well I have something that will cheer you up, I know that you want to be a neurosurgeon, I replied: that is correct, she continued: and I know that you recently told me about the story of a doctor who is from Mexicali and went to Harvard and is currently the best neurosurgeon in the world. –Yes I of course I remember that, Dr. Q! – well he will be giving a conference today, here in Guadalajara in the NH hotel Ill email you all the information, all residents, interns and medical students from the university of Guadalajara are welcome and as if it wasn’t wonderful yet its free entrance! – OMG! Thank you very much, OMG.

I have known about doctor Quiñones work since 5th semester when I was preparing a lecture about brain cancer for my internal medicine class, somehow during my research I found a video of him and his work, he is amazing and a huge inspiration, currently works at johns Hopkins and has the most promising research lab for brain cancer, I just finished reading his book and was about to meet him, actually be face to face with the master of the field I want to spend the rest of my life practicing, I couldn’t be more happy and excited, really I felt like a teenage girl who is about to meet her favorite singer, her movie idol, I was jumping, and smiling and singing and I’m sure my neighbors now think Im crazy!

I went there expecting it to be a big conference about brain cancer, where hundreds of knowledge hungry students and residents will battle to get in, I carried the book with me just in case I could get him to sign it and made my way to the hotel, by the time I made it to the lobby my heart was beating so fast I couldn’t believe it, my legs were shaking, my hands were sweating, I was about to meet the face of my true love neurosurgery, that physical representation of our field, it was a very big deal, then through the glass door of the lobby I see a familiar face, the same face that was in the cover of the book I was caring, it was him, DR. Quiñones, standing there looking at me as I was coming in and he greets me with an Hola! Bienvenida! I was in shock but I still manage to Say, Hola Dr. Q, it is a pleasure to finally meet you! There were only about for people there and he introduced me to all of them, I told him that I related a lot to his story and I too was from small town in Baja, from Mulege, he smiled and said: of course! I know Mulege is a beautiful little town! We were talking for about half an hour as people began to turn up, I told him about my dream of becoming a neurosurgeon and he told he was sure it was something I will accomplish, he introduced me to the heads of neurosurgery from different hospitals and after an hour of talking invited all of us to join him for what I still thought was a conference, we went upstairs and sat down, it was less than 15 of us, most internationally important neurosurgeons, a few residents and well, there was me, a soon to be intern, at that moment I felt so lucky and so little at the same time, and I knew that “everything happens for a reason even when we are not wise enough to see it” as I say all the time, it was a clinical case discussion and presentation of the cases that hi and his johns Hopkins team will come and operate next month in my hospital, I enjoyed the afternoon taking about brain tumors and aneurism and hearing what experts discussions sound like in the first world, after that we had a johns Hopkins “night with friends” as they call it and they offered us amazing dinner, by then a few more students showed up and I was surprised, first because we weren’t so many in fact we were under 50 people, and second because the less than 10 students who sis attend had been my students in the lab semesters before, they all stopped by and said hi and I felt very proud to be known as a academic authority in the university, it was for sure the most amazing afternoon since I moved here and maybe the most amazing afternoon in my life so far, I was invited to help next month when he come back to operate and that is why I want to start my internship in neurosurgery.

I hope I haven’t bored you already with all this writing but I just wanted you to know where we are in this dream, where we are in this journey, how far we have come, you my angels have helped me come all this way, I will always be thankful for your support, your donations have made it possible, you have trust me and that made a change in me and will hopefully make a change in this world, I will keep on working very hard to finish medical school training, to enter a residency program and to become a neurosurgeon, you know I can’t do it alone, and if you want to my family and I will be very much appreciate you help, you can donate via Paypal to: egvbuckovecs@gmail.com, every donation counts and helps this dream come true, I always keep you in my prayers and I hope to be able to go as far as possible to become the kind of person who can help others, to help find a cure for brain cancer, to help that person in an accident who has a brain bleed, to help anyone who need a doctor, I promise to stay true to the first promise, to make your effort, your help worth something, as much as I can.

You will always be in my heart and I’m always thanking god for giving me you as my angels, I hope you are doing well and I looking forward to telling you how was neurosurgery rotation and my first months as an intern,

Sincerely,

La Doctora Emilia

EngineerMike - 6-22-2014 at 09:41 AM

Utterly brilliant.

After many years in business I learned its like fishing- I concluded the job consists of staying afloat & learning how to keep a business running a little better every day. Then one day, a big fish will swim along.
And a dream comes true.

Mulegena - 6-22-2014 at 10:59 AM

OMGosh how wonderful coincidence is that!!

I saw Emi briefly-- and I mean briefly-- while she was in town. We were on the north river road and her dad was driving her back out of town. She waved at me and I realized it was Emi and slammed on the brakes, threw the car in park without checking the rear mirror and hopped out. We hugged big and said our hellos, loves and goodbyes in the same breath... and then she was gone.

Well done, Emilia.

woody with a view - 6-22-2014 at 11:13 AM

good luck Emilia!

i'm sure the world will be a better place with you caring for those in need!

Dr. Q couldn't be a better example for our budding neurosurgeon

akmaxx - 6-22-2014 at 02:14 PM

Here is the Wikipedia of his achievements....starting with a book very apropos for our heroine....





Books

In 2011, Quinones published his autobiography, Becoming Dr Q: My journey from migrant farm worker to brain surgeon. He is also the lead editor for the upcoming edition of Schmidek and Sweet's Operative Neurosurgical Techniques, one of the world's preeminent textbooks of neurosurgery.[11]
Awards and recognitions

1986 B.A. Escuela Normal Urbana Federal Fronteriza, Mexicali, Mexico - Social Sciences and Humanities, Multidisciplinary teaching license[12]
1991 San Joaquin Delta Community College, Stockton, California - Transfer core curriculum to the University of California [12]
1994 B.A. University of California, Berkeley, California - Highest Honors [12] 1999 M.D. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts - Cum Laude [12]
2000 University of California, San Francisco, California (General Surgery) - Most Valuable Intern Award [12]
2004 University of California, San Francisco, California (Residency - Neurosurgery) - Howard Naffziger Neurological Surgery Award [12]
2006 Howard Hughes Institute - Physician-Scientist Career Award [12]
2006 Association of American Medical Colleges - Herbert Nickens Award[12]
2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation - Career Development Award [12]
2006 American College of Surgeon - Franklin Martin Faculty Research Award [12]
2006 Johns Hopkins University - Passano Physician Scientist Award [12]
2007 Johns Hopkins Hospital - Department of Neurosurgery - Faculty Teaching Award (Richard J. Otenasek) [12]
2007 Robert Wood Johnson Award [12]
2007 Popular Science Magazine - Brilliant 10 Scientists Award[13]
2007 Baltimore Magazine - US Top Docs [14]
2007 Hispanic Business Journal - Top 100 Most influential Hispanic in the U.S.
2008 American Association of Neurological Surgeons - AANS Bittner Award
2008 Merage Foundation - National Leadership in Science and Medicine Award
2008 ANS/CNS - Skull Base Award
2008 Olender Foundation - America's Role Model Award [15]
2009 California Community College - Distinguished Alumni Award
2010 Science & Engineering Festival - Nifty Fifty Scientist [16]
2011 South Vermont College - Honorary Doctor of Human Letters
2011 Baltimore Magazine - Baltimore Top Docs[17]
2012 Lackawanna College, Scranton, Pennsylvania - Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa
2012 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD - Promoted to full Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology, Neuroscience and Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

BajaBlanca - 6-22-2014 at 07:09 PM

wow....she is AMAZING. How perfect that she gets to be with her idol. Things really do happen for a reason (((:

She made it....Rounds in Neurosurgery.....We believed in her and she didn't let us down

akmaxx - 6-27-2014 at 09:12 AM

Four years ago I posted that Emi was a little girl who would become a brain surgeon and I had the highest hopes she would at least get into medical school. She has done everything she has set out to accomplish and this week she starts a rotation in Neurosurgery.

This is all thanks to Nomads, generous patrons, and anonymous angels who stepped up and financed the dream of a Mulegena living in dire conditions with a village education. She is so close to changing lives for generations to come.

If you are feeling the spirit drop her a note and a donation at:

egvbuckovecs@gmail.com

AAAAAAAmmmmmmmaaaaaaazzzzziiiiiiiiinnnnngggggg!!!!!!



[Edited on 6-28-2014 by akmaxx]

chuckie - 6-27-2014 at 09:22 AM

Truly so!

wilderone - 6-27-2014 at 05:30 PM

"If you are feeling the spirit drop her a note and a donation at:"

[correction] egvbuckovecs@gmail.com

Just so Wilder....gracias

akmaxx - 6-27-2014 at 06:28 PM

That's twice I've mangled her email. That's why she's going to be a neurosurgeon and I am looking a place to hang my hammock.

Peace,

mulegemichael - 6-27-2014 at 07:39 PM

we all make these stinking choices, amigo...do you want to sell me back my transom ladder?...luvies, m.

Emi is performing surgery and saving lives....WOW! Thanks to every patron on Nomads.

akmaxx - 10-5-2014 at 09:02 AM

Many of you will receive this update directly from Emi but I know many donated anonymously and still want to follow this amazing story....A smile with your morning coffee and such good news after a hurricane.

________________________________

How are you?

I'm very well, I feel I have so much to share with you and so little time and space, so to sum it up I will tell you this, internship is AMAZING! Is challenging and is the most tiring thing I have ever done, both physically and emotionally.

I have a different rotation every month, the first one was neurosurgery where I got to have anatomy lessons based on live surgery by the one and only “DOCTOR Q” (lucky girl!)

Then my second month was urology, I really liked it, not as much as I love neurosurgery but is a good specialty and the doctors in that field are fun and relaxed compared to those in neurosurgery.

The next month I was supposed to do my rotation on OBGYN but as you remember I already spent 2 months doing that in another hospital so I switched with another intern and went back to neurosurgery. Neurosurgery is last place any intern wants to be in my hospital, why? Because is the place where you work the hardest, there you really ARE the doctor and the patients outcome depends 50% on you, that is a lot to take on if you are a doctor who is still in training, I know but you know me, I love challenges, so I love it there, if you do go back to the service you become a special kind of intern and have some privileges over the rest, like you get to scrub in the cool surgeries, actually assist the surgeries, intubate patients, and run the floor when the residents are operating, I started my first day by my resident telling the other interns in my rotation, well welcome to neurosurgery, if you need help with your patients ask Emilia, she is been here before so she knows, in fact if anything ask her, good bye, then he showed up the next day, it was a lot of responsibility on my back but I know I did a good job by telling you that in a month running a critical patients floor (patients with ventilators, central venous catheters, any other kind of critical support) my mortality rate was…. 0%, that’s right NONE of my patients died, that is a big deal, Im a training doctor and this are the hardest to manage patients more when you are on your own and you closest help is usually the guidelines and NEJM clinical practice videos! Still, somehow I made it and of course it made me the happiest person!

Now I'm in pediatrics ER, everybody knows me by the “surgical intern” so if a children got his finger cut the other interns will call me and say: can you please help stitch a kid’s hand? And of course I always do (except they have to do all the boring paperwork after, that’s what I charge).

I'm going to close by telling you about 3 moments that have defined my internship so far...

My birthday is August 26th, you know the way life works so of course I was on-call that night, and it was a rainy, lonely night, and I was doing all the paperwork in a hallway that happens to be close to the OR, and I was almost done with it (this was about 4:00 am) when an older lady whose face I recognize come up to me and says:

"Doctor Emilia! Happy birthday"!

Of course this was shocking since (I remembered after a few minutes) this was the wife of I patient I have treated in my first month in the neurosurgery floor, I was so shocked it took me a minute to answer so she said: I remember that you once told me you birthday was the 26th just like my husbands so I remembered and wanted to say congrats, I was really thankful and it sure as hell made my day one of the most special ones, when you can become so much in the life of somebody you barely know it becomes the most special of all relationships.. I didn’t get any sleep that night but spent it with a smile on my face.

The second one is about practice, I try my best to always be on time, it's hard, specially when growing up in a society that doesn’t value or practice that very much, still, everyday I fight it and try my best to be on time,that day I was call to the OR for an emergency surgery, a patient have had a an accident and the bleeding and the swallowing where causing to much pressure in his brain so we had to drill some holes (trepans) and release all that pressure before his brain herniates. My resident had call me and another doctor ( female, 6th year, also wants to be a neurosurgeon), but I got there first so he said if thing look well I might let you drill the trepans, later as we were starting the surgery he was asking me where I was from, I told him I was from Mulege and so on and he said, well little Mulegina Girl, since you got here on time and you want to be a neurosurgeon please come drill some holes in this man’s head, I was so excited! Of course he was supervising the whole thing but it was amazing! Because of the good outcomes I was later allowed to do a ventriculostomy, drill more trepans and close, I will do the first year resident work some days, and I loved it, working on the brain, it just can’t be called work! Is happiness, is art, is perfection!

The third and last history is about a patient I had in my second neuro rotation, when I met him he was breathing with the help of a ventilator, he had IV lines running everywhere, nasogastric tube to be feed, chest tubes in both his lungs because his accident was so severe it cause him a hemothorax ( a collection of blood in his lungs that couldn’t let him breath), his wife was a really nice lady and I enjoyed a lot talking to her and seeing how much she cared about her husband, I worked my ass off (sorry about the expression, but I did) on this case, I promised myself I will not let him go down I will do whatever it takes to get him better, about 3 days ago I run into him, I didn’t recognize him at first but his wife came running to me crying Doctor Emilia! Look who is here and walking again, it was HIM! Coming to his 2 weeks after discharge appointment! His hair was longer (when I met him he had no hair, they have to be bold for the surgery), he looked so good, so different, I said hi to him and he say I barely remember you as I was usually asleep but thank you very much, and shacked my hand.

And after all of this I want to say, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, because as this man was shaking my hand it was also your hand he was shaking, it was you he was saying thank you to, it was you who made it possible for him to see his children and wife again, to breath on his own and to be happy, I thank god I get to do this and I thank you for making it possible, your help through this now five years have let me do all this and the good things happening I'm sure must come back to you because you are the one who made it possible.

My heart is broken because of all that is happen in Mulege lately, is so sad to know that nature can take out so much of my town every year, I know just how hard it gets when this happens, all the bad roads, all the mold, all the dirt everywhere, all you things gone, I have called my parents and they are alive but it sure hits hard every time and leaves my beautiful town a little bit lonelier every time, I hope it all gets better soon and I keep everybody in my prayers and in my heart…

Graduation from school is coming soon and then full time public service for a year. I am investigating hospitals in Germany and Portland, Oregon to further my studies in neurosurgery. Some have teaching programs that will allow me to complete residency and become U.S. certified neurosurgeon. Whatever happens I am in a position now to help people who many think are beyond help and save lives of others who have many people who care for them. I am grateful for the opportunity and love my profession.

So, I will make sure I write to you again soon with more internship adventures, I love you very much and I’m so very thankful for all your help, god bless you!

Dra. Emi

jbcoug - 10-5-2014 at 11:56 AM

Max,
Thanks for sharing, it seems like only yesterday you were asking for help for this girl from Mulege. We have had the honor of watching this miracle develop right before our eyes. However small our contributions have been, they have grown to an unimaginable return. You picked the right horse for us to bet on, she is a thoroughbred and a winner! I can't get past the image of the high school girl we were asked to help. When I receive her emails I am overwhelmed by her energy, desire, professionalism, and passion. She was born to do this and we were allowed to watch it happen, what a gift. Selfishly, I hope she ends up working in Portland near me. I would love to spend an hour or two with her, hearing the excitement in her voice as she describes her journey. Hopefully some of her energy would rub off on this old guy. This has truly been an adventure, and it's only started. This lady has an amazing future.

Mulegena - 10-5-2014 at 01:29 PM

Gosh, what a letter. Wow. Emilia is a star among stars. What a life she is choosing to live. So pleased she's in this world. That she comes from my chosen hometown Mulege and I've had the pleasure of watching her grow up and realize her dreams gives much comfort and pleasure to this heart.

Thank you, Nomads, and thank you, Max, for working to help her make this life-long dream come true.

Go, Dra. Emi, go!

EngineerMike - 10-6-2014 at 08:59 AM

Many hands make light work.
This has been easy on our part to offer support in small doses from lots of interested citizens; all that adds up to enough fuel to keep the machine moving forward. And this story, among many, speaks highly of the Nomad spirit of concern & caring.

Go Emi, Goooooooooooooo!!!

BajaBlanca - 10-6-2014 at 02:57 PM

Maxx, do you know if her parents will be able to go to her graduation? This is something I would LOVE to contribute to.....whaddyall think? Can we pull it off?

Will you be able to go Maxx? If you can get us an address and a date, I also want to send her flowers to honor the occasion.

So so so lucky to have been able to participate in this most incredible of human's life thanks to you Maxx. You truly made this happen, so I also shake YOUR hand.

The world is lucky to have Emi's in it, docs who dedicate their whole essence to saving our lives.

All nice ideas....

akmaxx - 10-7-2014 at 10:03 AM

I don't know the exact graduation date and yes it would be nice for the parents to attend (will think about that more as it gets closer).

Emi is gunning hard for Portland JB because she has some hospital patrons from up that way and US certification is the gold standard (which she is capable of attaining given the opportunity).

Many hands make light work is the truth but it is miles easier if the recipient really wants the help and has clear goals in mind. I have helped more that few ideas along down here only to be shown true colors once the money is invested and/or donated. Live and learn.

Emi is a grand-slam home run in the karma department and her successes have made my other losses tolerable.

A toast to all who have followed this story and nudged it along with their contributions and positive vibes.

Peace,

BajaBlanca - 10-7-2014 at 05:01 PM

Very wise words about choosing the right recipients and this one being a GRAND SLAM.

EnsenadaDr - 10-7-2014 at 05:02 PM

Just to let you know, there are no programs in the US that will allow someone without a Titulo Medico to complete residency in the United States. Emi needs to do a year of Internship and a year of Social Service in Mexico after graduation to qualify for the Titulo Medico and also pass step 1 and step 2 of the United States medical Boards before anyone in the US will even consider her to be accepted into a residency program in the United States. On top of that her grades have to be excellent for the US Boards (over 90%) because she is competing with other students that have been groomed for the exam in the US since day one, unlike Mexico that does not give you any preparation for the US boards. It's a very tough road, but graduation is just one more step in many to gain entry to the US for residency. Neurosurgery is probably one of the most competitive fields, and what she can do is take the ENARM which is the Medical exam in Mexico and depending on her grades there she can enter a residency in neurology in Mexico meanwhile gain experience in Mexico ih her chosen field. Her writing skills in English are very good, so that shouldn't be an issue. Even to gain residency in Mexico, she needs to have her Titulo medico and her license to practice medicine (Cedula profesional).


[Edited on 10-8-2014 by EnsenadaDr]

[Edited on 10-8-2014 by EnsenadaDr]

taoswheat - 10-8-2014 at 07:49 AM

Sent a small donation.
JohnW
Taos, NM

akmaxx - 10-8-2014 at 12:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by taoswheat
Sent a small donation.
JohnW
Taos, NM



Gracias Senor W. I am sure Emi appreciates and remembers your support from the beginning.

I suspect Emi is tutoring to raise money to bring her folks to the graduation as this would be a very big deal in her family and as I had breakfast with them yesterday I saw them try not to smile throughout with the pride that is bursting out of them.

Mulege is richer for it when their children bring pride to the pueblo.

Muchisimas gracias,

LancairDriver - 10-8-2014 at 02:46 PM

It is good to see that she seems to be progressing though the program successfully. In many cases young foreign medical students understandably want to come to the US for access to more modern equipment, training, and much better compensation. Most wind up then staying in the US at no benefit to their fellow countrymen who many initially set out to help. Hopefully that won't be the case here as Mulege and the rest of Mexico needs all the trained medical help they can get.

EngineerMike - 10-8-2014 at 03:55 PM

I'm not worried where Emi lands. She may find her truest calling in research, after all her capacity & thirst for learning already led her to a brief collaboration with Dr. Q who is on the cutting edge.
Wherever she goes she well be advancing the human condition and providing a shining example that Baja's kids are as smart as any kids anywhere in the world, and demonstrating that removing economic barriers to opportunity is an important duty of all concerned citizens.

BajaBlanca - 10-9-2014 at 02:28 PM

So well put, and I agree totally.

This is a woman who may discover the cure to cancer or another disease. May she be guided to the perfect location to benefit the world accordingly.

I still can't get over how amazing she is and how without Maxx seeing her and believing in her, we might never have been able to help her!

Emi

Sharrone - 10-12-2014 at 10:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
"If you are feeling the spirit drop her a note and a donation at:"

[correction] egvbuckovecs@gmail.com


Just sent a little for her. So proud of this young lady.

Another update from the ALMOST Doctora

akmaxx - 3-15-2015 at 07:21 PM

Couldn't have picked a stronger candidate for success. Here is her latest update for those of you who donated anonymously:

_______________________________

I hope your day is going very well, I also wish to let you know how things are going in the ALMOST doctor world.

I'm in my 8th month of the internship, the last three have been a marathon, well every month of the internship is, but this time I started the year in neurosurgery, it was amazing as always, a lot of learning, performed my first thracheostomy, placed central lines and intubated a lot! It was wonderful!

The next month was trauma surgery also known here as "legal" surgery because is where they operate any patient who's injuries are related to a traumatic and further legal event, like accidents, gunshot wounds, knife wounds, and it is an amazing service but it is also the most unpredictable one, one second you are sitting reading your medical books and the next you have to run like crazy and take patients to the OR and most of the time spend the whole (day-night) there, residents ( as an old tradition) have to stay there permanently for a month, they are very tired by the end of it so we try to help them as much as possible.

Had the craziest cases like a girl who shot herself while playing with a revolver, for no special reason, at the very same time a guy was working in his hardware store when somebody tried to rob him and kill him so we had two amazing surgeries at the same time, both patients exit the OR intubated but got better later in the week and got discharge a week later in a much better condition.
This month I'm in the OB-GYN wing of the hospital, in this hospital they do a lot of cessation since it is a high speciality center and they only admit the complicated cases, still is a good rotation and a required one.

I'm very thankful for all the help you have provided me over the years, I'm very thankful that you are still with me in this long yet exciting journey of medical school and internship and I always thank god for giving me in you the angels who helped me become something, thanks to you I know think everything is possible, and even when I'm puzzled with difficult times in life I always remember, miracles DO exist! I'm living one!

God bless you!

Sincerely,
Emilia

TMW - 3-16-2015 at 11:22 AM

Excellent, thanks for the update.

jbcoug - 3-16-2015 at 02:52 PM

I never get tired of hearing about her experiences! How fortunate we are that Maxx put us in a place where we could help this young lady, even if in a small way.

Thanks JB....

akmaxx - 3-16-2015 at 07:02 PM

I only added to her momentum by letting Nomads know of her situation. I think Emilia would have figured out how to get cooking sooner or later because she is one smart cookie.

Peace,:bounce:

Five years have passed and produced a doctor - Un milagro y gracias a todos

akmaxx - 7-7-2015 at 09:41 AM

Basic schooling is over and now onto public service and special training with the hopes of obtaining residency for neurosurgery around the Pacific Northwest.

She couldn't have done it without all her special NOMAD donors.

Pat yourselves on the back.



elgatoloco - 7-7-2015 at 10:10 AM

That is awesome news! Congrats all around. :dudette:

jbcoug - 7-7-2015 at 12:10 PM

This whole episode has flown by so quickly! It's hard to believe that this young lady with big dreams has already graduated. She is one class act! Looking forward to following the next step.

BajaBlanca - 7-7-2015 at 10:22 PM

and we have a DOCTORA!!! Akmaxx- thanks so much for taking us on this journey.....a dreamer from Mulege who will certainly make a difference in this world.

What a moment.

EngineerMike - 7-8-2015 at 05:48 PM

Its been an incredible journey. Emi nursed herself through sleeplessness, anemia, pounding study schedules, and more. She met her inspiration, Dr. Q and hob-nobbed w/him. And went from a teenager to an accredited physician. All while we watched and cheered her on.
Un Milagro, Claro que Si!! Que bella!!

Emi mentioned at one time she would like to be stationed in Mulege or Sta.Rosalia to do her social service. I'm sure it would be nice to be near her familia again for an extended period. Not sure that's an option, however; they'll probably send our Medico to Chiapas or Juarez.

Thanks a million Maxx, for accepting this challenge of organizing support. Without your efforts, Emi almost certainly would not have made it over the threshold to start the trip. Its amazing how time flies, seems like just yesterday this journey started.

Mulege has another aspiring medico- Emma Laura Castro. Emma was straight 10's & first place all three years of "prepa." She has applied to the same school Emi has just completed, and to the med school in Colima. Keep your fingers crossed. Exam results are due out from UdG 23 July, from UCOL 7 Aug. With any luck...

The Sweet Smile of Success

akmaxx - 7-9-2015 at 08:23 AM



Thanks to everybody for the support. I have no doubt Emi will pay it forward when she is able. A great thing for Mulege and her Nomad supporters.

Peace,

BajaBlanca - 7-9-2015 at 10:04 AM

The more I think about her, the more PROUD I am of her!

Is Mulege going to pump out doctoras???? Bring it on ladies!

EngineerMike - 7-9-2015 at 10:31 AM

The med school trajectory in Mexico is fundamentally different than in the States (not sure about Canada). Emi went straight to med school from high school, whereas in the States she would have gone thru a "pre-med" 4 year degree as part of the weed-out process to demonstrate the student is up to a high level of competition & output. Its a massively larger shift of mental gears for the student in Mexico, since the curriculum is essentially the same (e.g. in either case a med student doesn't 'study' anatomy & physiology, she memorizes it). So the threshold to get accepted in Mexico has to be substantially higher.

As a result, the Mexican student sees a radically more dramatic shift in schedule, focus, etc. coming from comparatively lazy high school demands straight into a med school grind. But kids are adaptable, and motivated kids (like Emi was, past tense as she's a kid no more) can take the ball & run as fast as needed.

I love this story. Thanks, Emi for all your hard work (and all that yet still to come), and thanks again to Maxx!

Life as a young Doctor - Update from The Little Girl from Mulege

akmaxx - 7-22-2015 at 09:42 PM

Ahhhhh...............

I hope you summer is going great so far, mine is amazing since I got the opportunity to see my family in Mulege who I love and miss very much.


I will like to update you on what is going on with medical school so far, after five very hard study years were there were tears, sleeplessness and many other struggles, but also laughs and wonderful experiences I will always hold on to, we finished medical school and graduated! I say we because that is what really happened, WE did it! If it weren’t for all your support both economical and emotional I don’t think I will have made it, so I want to tell you just how grateful I am to you for all this help over the last five year, thank you very much for every good word of support and thank you very much for trusting me in this road. I am aware that the odds were against this mission but despite that WE conquered it! Now I can call myself a doctor thanks to you. Please be sure that whatever good comes from it is due to your good actions starting five years ago.


Now what happens after medical school and internship in Mexico?


First, even though I have graduated I am still a student in the University of Guadalajara for another year because in order to obtain a federal certification and be able to prescribe drugs and work on my own in general medicine or move into residency first I need to complete a year of community service.


Usually the students of the University of Guadalajara end up going to very isolated parts of Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Guerrero, Zacatecas to complete this year, fewer get to stay in the big hospitals in the city and this is decided due to your grades, I was lucky enough (and worked hard enough) to be one of the lucky ones who gets to stay in the hospital and practice medicine in a 3rd level center.


You have to choose a clinic to do this and I choose the Blood donation clinic where, basically, what I will do is promote altruist blood donation in all population sectors and when people donate but unfortunately we detect that there is an infection such as HIV, HEPATITIS, ETC. I will call them and ask them to come back into the hospital to have a second test run. If they test positive I will give them the necessary information and take them to the infectious disease clinic to get treatment .


Also I will be studying for my ENARM and what is this?


Basically is the equivalent of board certification, except even if you pass there are very few residency programs available, so 50, 000 aspirant apply every year and compete for 5,000 residency programs, therefore only 10% of those applying will get admitted in a residency training anywhere in Mexico. In order to prevent not being able to specialize as I have always wanted to I have already started studying for it. It is different from the USMLE steps in many ways because it is as if you took all those examinations and made it into one big exam that will be hosted for me in September 5th 2016, so there is time to make it right and I’m very excited and working hard on it.


Well I hope I didn't bore you with all this technical stuff I just really want to say, from my heart, thank you very much for all your support. You have been amazing to me, you are my guardian angels and I thank god very much everyday for having you in my life.


Sincerely,

Dra. Emilia G.V. Buckovecs.

BajaBlanca - 7-23-2015 at 01:16 AM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

jbcoug - 7-23-2015 at 10:04 AM

I received this from Emilia yesterday as well, she is a class act!

Love seeing Dra. in front of her name!

BigBearRider - 7-23-2015 at 03:32 PM

Quote: Originally posted by EngineerMike  
Mulege has another aspiring medico- Emma Laura Castro. Emma was straight 10's & first place all three years of "prepa." She has applied to the same school Emi has just completed, and to the med school in Colima. Keep your fingers crossed. Exam results are due out from UdG 23 July, from UCOL 7 Aug. With any luck...


Today is the 23rd! Keeping my fingers crossed.

Bob H - 7-23-2015 at 04:25 PM

This is such a wonderful story. It's hard to believe 5 years went by so quickly. It's so nice to see that she "made it" !!!

Sharrone - 7-24-2015 at 09:51 AM

I am so thrilled for her, and gad I could help in a small way. :bounce:

Ricardo - 7-27-2015 at 05:31 PM

Hi everyone, well Emilia made us very proud but just remember she will not be getting paid for the next year. I remember how tough it was after I graduated from university, no money and no job. I think we should consider helping her out for this next year. I know I will be.
Just letting you know.
Rick

BajaBlanca - 7-27-2015 at 09:37 PM

Great thought! I will gladly send some too.

Still studying hard - Update from La Doctora

akmaxx - 12-9-2015 at 11:42 AM

What other barely teenager would give up Facebook to concentrate on her studies? That is dedication on a grand scale.

Merry x-mas to all her generous Nomads patrons.


"I am doing well, the truth is I miss the internship a lot, being there with the patient the hardcore surgeries and the stress from days of no sleep but I understand my reality. If I don't study very hard right now I will really never feel like that again, I love surgery but if I want to be a surgeon first I must prepare for my test. I read every day and come to the hospital but my work is not nearly as exiting as it was last year.

I have found that most of my friends feel the same way and that is exactly why is so important to eliminate all distraction (well, like that is possible right) but at least most distractions. I miss knowing about everyone through Facebook but: actions expresses priorities and my priority now is studying as hard as I can. I have many good friends who passed and many who did not pass and they all agreed that it was all about the commitment, reading at least 6 hours everyday no matter what and not getting distracted.

I dont see my friends very often either but Im sure that next September I will see the results.

Something I do keep in my schedule is exercise, it is so important to stay healthy so I took up running and I just run a half marathon last week, it was to support children with cancer in my hospital, I loved it!

Emilia"

jbcoug - 12-9-2015 at 11:54 AM

These updates are always so inspiring, what a great young lady!

BigBearRider - 12-9-2015 at 12:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
Quote: Originally posted by EngineerMike  
Mulege has another aspiring medico- Emma Laura Castro. Emma was straight 10's & first place all three years of "prepa." She has applied to the same school Emi has just completed, and to the med school in Colima. Keep your fingers crossed. Exam results are due out from UdG 23 July, from UCOL 7 Aug. With any luck...


Today is the 23rd! Keeping my fingers crossed.


Any news on Emma Laura Castro?

EngineerMike - 12-9-2015 at 01:52 PM

Old saying: "If you want to change your life- change your friends." Or in Emilia's case, your interaction with friends. Giving up Facebook, for a young person, to focus all effort on study is a very mature statement. I believe Emi will go all the way.

Emma Laura was accepted at Colima and is in the neighborhood of completing her 1st semester in medicine. She has a single room in a large house with other students so she can study on her own schedule without interruption.

We are very proud of both of these hard working women, as well as our many other hard working scholars from Mulege. To date the Mulege Scholarship Program had assisted 82 students thru university & 198 thru high school. I spoke with Henry Tussy yesterday; he and his wife Judy founded the Program in 1987. They are getting ready to celebrate their 70th anniversary soon.

BigBearRider - 12-9-2015 at 02:06 PM

Quote: Originally posted by EngineerMike  
Old saying: "If you want to change your life- change your friends." Or in Emilia's case, your interaction with friends. Giving up Facebook, for a young person, to focus all effort on study is a very mature statement. I believe Emi will go all the way.

Emma Laura was accepted at Colima and is in the neighborhood of completing her 1st semester in medicine. She has a single room in a large house with other students so she can study on her own schedule without interruption.

We are very proud of both of these hard working women, as well as our many other hard working scholars from Mulege. To date the Mulege Scholarship Program had assisted 82 students thru university & 198 thru high school. I spoke with Henry Tussy yesterday; he and his wife Judy founded the Program in 1987. They are getting ready to celebrate their 70th anniversary soon.


Good news. Thanks!

BajaBlanca - 12-9-2015 at 08:26 PM

Emilia is just plain AWESOME! One day she will be very famous. We are the lucky ones that got to participate in this wonderful story.

thanks akmaxx for recommending her to us way back when.

She ran a marathon! I couldn't run around the block lol

alacran - 12-10-2015 at 05:55 PM

Hi Max, even I did not know the relationship,
Anyway I pledge $ 100.00
Pay you when we can meet.

Muchisimas Gracias Alacran....

akmaxx - 12-11-2015 at 09:38 AM

Very generous. I'll see you soon and then I will Paypal your donation to Emila. She will appreciate your gift.

La Doctora in action.....

akmaxx - 1-2-2016 at 02:30 PM

On Christmas Eve Emilia's father, Pancho, suffered a suspected heart attack in Mulege. After an initial consult in St. Rosalia Pancho was shipped to La Paz to Salvatierra Hospital.

Emilia's employer's (the hospital in Guadalajara) bought her a ticket on Xmas day to visit her father in the hospital. Emilia observed everything that was going on, reviewed the opinions, the charts, and made a decision to when her father was well enough to travel he would go with her to Guadalajara for care in her hospital. On the 28th Pancho flew with Emi to Guadalajara where she was able to have specialists diagnose a myocardial infection, severe pneumonia, and other technical terms I didn't understand.

A quick trip to the MRI revealed that there was heart tissue worth saving and now Emilia is working with a specialist to schedule cauterization of the remaining healthy parts of the heart.

A stressful xmas for our doctor but she maintained her calm professionalism while assisting the treatment of the patient, her father Pancho.

Here's hoping that Pancho gets better and Emilia can get back to receiving top grades and training on her way to becoming a U.S. trained neurosurgeon.

Feliz Navidad.....

P.S. A double thanks to Alacran for his generous donation over the xmas season.

BajaBlanca - 1-3-2016 at 07:36 PM

so sorry to hear about Emi's dad. I will keep him in my prayers.

alacran - 1-3-2016 at 09:01 PM

Sad to hear about Pancho, very nice guy. Glad to hear is doing better.
And to have family at his side.
Thanks Max for the info.
Keep up the good work, and happy to see you again in Mulege.

excellent news for the brain surgeon.

akmaxx - 10-9-2016 at 05:18 PM

Over 8000 took the surgeons exam to compete for 600 positions and Emilia passed. This incredibly difficult exam is open to all students who have passed medical school so many have taken it multiple times since graduating.

This allows Emilia to continue her quest to become a brain surgeon and all of you angel patrons who nursed this little miracle along should be very very happy.

I hadn't posted about the 14 hour seven day a week study regime for this exam because i didn't want to distract her. But congratulations are in order now since nothing can stop her from her goal now.

Whew!


Peace,


DENNIS - 10-9-2016 at 06:34 PM



....................................amazing..............................

La Doctora

akmaxx - 7-9-2017 at 05:51 PM

3D choledisectomy (Gall bladder removal, I had to look it up) last week as a surgical resident in Guadalajara. Part of the dozen years of training to become a brain surgeon.

She has been invited to do a rotation with a world famous neuro-surgeon (Dr. Q) at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. I believe this will happen after her residency in Guadalajara and will look fantastic on her application for further specialty training in the US, possibly at Kaiser in Portland. to be US trained neurosurgeon.

She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided by all her generous patrons and if those patrons want to continue with the furtherance of Mulege's finest students, I would suggest this next group...

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=86820#pid1086...

Peace,







[Edited on 7-10-2017 by akmaxx]

EnsenadaDr - 7-10-2017 at 12:10 PM

The only way to get into a residency in the US is to pass the USMLE has she taken that yet?
Quote: Originally posted by akmaxx  
3D choledisectomy (Gall bladder removal, I had to look it up) last week as a surgical resident in Guadalajara. Part of the dozen years of training to become a brain surgeon.

She has been invited to do a rotation with a world famous neuro-surgeon (Dr. Q) at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. I believe this will happen after her residency in Guadalajara and will look fantastic on her application for further specialty training in the US, possibly at Kaiser in Portland. to be US trained neurosurgeon.

She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity provided by all her generous patrons and if those patrons want to continue with the furtherance of Mulege's finest students, I would suggest this next group...

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=86820#pid1086...

Peace,







[Edited on 7-10-2017 by akmaxx]

DawnPatrol - 7-10-2017 at 01:49 PM

I am a little late to the party...
remind me of where we can PayPal to donate
Alan from SD

BajaBlanca - 7-10-2017 at 05:34 PM

I tell you guys, her English is now first rate!

akmaxx - 7-11-2017 at 03:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by DawnPatrol  
I am a little late to the party...
remind me of where we can PayPal to donate
Alan from SD


Thank you for the thought Alan, but until some specific need arises (last minute something Emilia can't finance) I think she has broken free from the economic bands that hold some smart kids from making it. Through long term generous patrons, her own meager salary as a resident, paid tutoring on the side (crazy with a resident's schedule), and allllll the past help from Nomads along with others, I believe she is now more free to do with this world what she likes.

That being said, she is also aware of the next group of kids from her old high school and has aided in getting the word out that they need a little boost soon to represent all of Mexico (from a village of 3,000) in Chile next month at the international science fair.

You could donate via paypal with a reference to La Doctora to the effect that dreams do come true if you are willing to work realllly hard and have a few dozen friends to help you along.

Peace,

P.S. This story has been seven years in the making and if it ended tomorrow it would still be a success. However, I will still post milestones which should include entry into neurosurgery specialization, passing the USMLE's, residency in the states, and one whopping big post when she is certified to do a brain transplant on a politician (if she could find something to work with).

_______________________________-

Keep the donations coming for amazing Mulege students...



Keeping Baja clean through recycling and providing jobs in every village that produces trash. The possibilities are exciting and this is something everyone can support with a click of the button. Please share this with any person or organization interested in the environment, students, education, Mexico, Mulege....

This Eco-Mold project is another wonder from the sleepy isolated town in the middle of nowhere.

These students beat out kids from much bigger schools (many more resources of every type) all over Mexico and are able to show off Mulege and Mexico on the international stage in Chile next month, should they raise enough capital to participate.

Many generous patrons have contributed or said they will contribute but since the clock is ticking...a gentle nudge is needed to click over to Paypal and send these students to take over the world.

They have budgeted an extremely modest and frugal $90,000 pesos to travel seven thousand miles for four team members and their teacher. They have included nothing in their budget for entertainment or culture outside of their focus on the science fair itself. So many things these kids could see but first they need to get there and compete.

The government has kicked in, but not enough, and private sponsors have pledged (though some have not actually sent the money) to the tune of $51,000 pesos so far. The bare bones trip needs another $39,000 fairly quickly so airfare deals can be secured.

Mulege hasn't won many, or any, prizes like this before so they were caught off guard by the honor and fund-raising wasn't really thought necessary since the chances winning were so remote. If Monterrey or Guadalajara students won this honor, as expected, somebody would whip out a Visa card and pay with pleasure for the bragging rights.

It's a worthy cause and a great source of pride for Mexico, B.C.S. and especially Mulege.

Those of you snowbirds who aren't enjoying the "wonderful" weather down here right now can send a little something to honor their winter home.

Peace,


Also see their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/eco.mold/?ref=br_rs


[Edited on 5-31-2021 by akmaxx]

TMW - 7-11-2017 at 04:09 PM

Good to hear she is doing good and I hope many more follow in her footsteps.

whistler - 1-19-2018 at 12:35 AM

Been ages since I have visited this site.
A few years ago I tried to send graduation money to Emilia.
It did not go through via PayPal.
I now know why.
Plus I thought I would say hi to all my old friends.
Hope you are well!


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