operating room!

In my opinion, the visit to the heart and diabetes center in Bad Oeynhausen was far and away the best field trip we have taken thus far. I absolutely love being in the operating room and can't think of a better way to spend my day. I had the opportunity to observe a heart surgery on a nine year old girl with a rare heart defect. I have observed many surgeries in the past but never such an extensive surgery on a such a young child. I was afraid that this might be more difficult to seperate my emotions in this situation, but I was thankful to see it was no difference in this sense. I found it slightly frustrating at times when I did not understand what the surgeon was doing or what I was looking at, and was desperately wishing i spoke deutsch. I cannot wait until I am further into my medical studies and will be able to know exactly what I am observing in surgeries.
I also enjoyed observing patients from the transplant floor. After watching my dad recover from open heart surgery this past summer, I was amazed at the condition of the patient who had recieved a new heart less than 48 hours before. I am constantly amazed at the medical technology and knowledge we have available to us. This hospital seemed like a wonderful place to work. I would have enjoyed seeing some of the work they did with the diabetes patients as well.
Thats all for now... I am off to a beer festival!