Dr. Jackie

I'm sure every single one of my friends has heard me mention Jackie. She and I went to Dental Assisting school together and now she's entering her third year in dental school at USC. Dr. Valdez coined the name "Dr. Jackie" when he met her at a dental convention at the time she had just been accepted to every dental school she had applied to. She's amazing. I feel like a proud mom every time I mention her. She was married last May-I had blogged about her wedding in Tahoe. It was beautiful! Now she's expecting her first baby WHILE going to dental school-WOW!

Dr. Jackie had a terrible day the other day. While she was telling me her story I felt overwhelmed for her! I just have to share it because I'm surprised she's still pregnant (she's due the end of this month). It went something like this:

Dr. J goes to school, has a Spanish speaking patient who is claiming her upper right canine is in so much pain that her eyeballs hurt. Jackie already knows she's likely going to be REALLY dramatic and is starting to worry it's going to be a difficult procedure.

She reviews the patient's health history. The patient denies having any dental axiety, heart problems, or asthma. She takes her vitals-everything is low and where it should be. The procedure starts and out comes the needle.

Patient looses control and starts pretending to have a seizure. She's grabbing at her throat like she can't breathe and and going crazy. Then grabs an inhailer from her purse (HEY! I thought she denied having asthma)! Dr. J forgets her Spanish at that moment and grabs someone that speaks it to talk to this woman. They have to call for the emergency team on the campus. Some of the top dentists and surgeons respond. Luckily Dr. J did everything she was supposed to and can answer their questions. They conclude the woman had a panic attack and clear Dr. J to finish/start the procedure. The receptionist tells Jackie, "Wow. I've only seen something like this five times in my twenty years here! That's probably why that lady was turned away from three other offices before coming here." Thanks...

Now she has missed her train. She needs to wait another hour for the next and really has to pee. She reluctantly goes into the station's restroom and while waiting in line to wash her hands, there is a woman at the sink with a cat on her shoulder. The cat is continously meowing and the woman is talking to herself. Next the woman is taking handfulls of water and throwing them onto Dr. J and the other woman in the restroom. They run out and Jackie lets the station manager know about the 5150 she had just encountered.

Jackie decides to try another route home rather than waiting for an hour. She gets off on the wrong bus stop and is now lost. It's night time and she's somewhere near Azusa (she lives in Glendora). She calls her husband and asks him to come and find her while she tries walking towards home. Her husband tells her to stay put and he will call her when he's getting closer. She forgets her phone is still on vibrate and he calls her eight times and is probably now panicing that his eight-month-pregnant wife isn't answering. She picks up her phone and sees he's been trying to call. She calls him back and he freaks out. She cries. He finds her and she goes to bed...still pregnant SOMEHOW.

My bad day was nothing compared to this. I regret ever feeling sorry for myself! Hang in there Jackie! You can do it!