Giraffes, Tigers, and Bears

This past weekend, I did the public animal encounters with giraffes, elephants, bears, and tigers that the park offers.

This week we did biopsies on some elephants, a physical exam on a bald eagle, gave fluids to a cheetah, checked on some coughing lion cubs, and unfortunately did have a necropsy on a cheetah as well. I've been relishing every thing about this park and the work I've been able to do!

I have been nervously searching and applying for a jobs every night. This is all getting very real!
This weekend I am planning on going to the coast for the weekend in honor of the snow back home!

All Creatures Great And Small

Wildlife Safari Externship

I started my final externship this week at the Wildlife Safari in Oregon which took nearly 12 hours of traveling.

I am staying in an intern house with 10 other people most of whom are 7 years younger than me, while sharing a room with two others (so no personal space), and sleeping on a cot for the next month.

This externship so closely reminds me of Africa and it's the most I've been able to participate in an externship setting this year. This week, we already anesthetized a Sika deer for a hoof trim, wound checked a ring tailed Lemer, did bloodwork and gave fluids to a rhino, received a call about a distressed oryx who unfortunately we did a necropsy on the next day, anesthetized a cheetah that ended up having an intestinal obstruction.  I obviously cannot post any pictures of the medical procedures, but I can share some pictures from around the park.  Highlight of the week: I did the anesthesia monitoring on the cheetah, who did wake up during, and was able to to pick her up and carry her in order to weigh her. Insanity!

Setbacks Into Successes

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This was my last week of radiology! One of Toby Keith horses was at our hospital this weekend for a surgery.  I had my emergency shift on Sunday during the day and Wednesday night.

The NAVLE results came in this week and while I was hesitant to write about it at first, I am strong enough and been through enough setbacks to not let this affect me the way it would have a few years ago. Unfortunately, I will be retaking it in April; fortunately, it will better prepare me to start practicing on my own. This isn't a setback because I will still be graduating on time; it's merely an inconvenience yet an excuse to solidly information.  In four months, I will be a veterinarian.
I have an incredibly inspirational veterinary friend who has been through a lot of setbacks, maybe more than me, she found out this week that she can officially practice as a doctor. She constantly had a positive attitude, never gave up, encouraged others (especially me), and trusted the journey. If she ever felt defeated or discouraged, she didn't let show.  I'm so proud of this beautifully strong woman!
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This weekend I will be traveling to Winston, Oregon for my 3 week externship at the Wildlife Safari.

Starting The New Year

The new year is off to a fantastic start so far!
I have a month and half to cross off the rest of the items on my 30 before 30 list. Two of the items is to do something for 30 days and get better at yoga, so I'm combining the two and doing yoga for 30 days. I'm doing a series of Yoga with Adriene. I've also started a new workout series and a different muscle group of mine has been sore every single day this week.

The clinic is full again but this rotation is still uneventful. One more week.....

I ordered a bunch of veterinary books that came in this week! So exciting....yes I'm a nerd.

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