Rest in peace, Avo

Expect the unexpected. Today is Clinical day 3! I woke up at 4:30am to get ready to meet Dr. Sridhar, an ortho surgeon, at 6:00am by the fountain. We started the day by doing rotations and going over the patients of the day. Drow and I sat in the front of the classroom as they went over each case for the day. It was interesting to see how each person contributed their thoughts about the patients background, case, and procedure. Every input aided to the each patient's case.

Drow and I then went to our first surgery. Dr. Sridhar flew out of the room so we immediately got up and walked after him so we would not lose him. For this one, I was able to see a full hip replacement. It was crazy to see flesh so up close and only about 3 feet away. I spelt the burning flesh, felt the coldness of the room, and head the loud thuds as the saw cut through bone. I was amazed with with the amount that I was able to see. I kept getting a little distracted during surgery because my apple watch kept vibrating. I felt message after message going through. During this procedure, I glance on my wrist and see messages from my brother. ​ It says "are you free right now." I never usually panic when I see texts like these but I told my brother that I was shadowing all day so he knew that I would be in surgery. I politely stepped out of the OR, and texted my brother back "yes, why". He then said "it's about avo". In Konkani, the native language of Goa, India, avo means "grandmother". Remember when I wrote about my uncle passing away. My brother told me that news too and it went like "It's about Basil" So from experience, I knew what this text meant. I called my brother immediately. and he then let me know that my grandmother had passed away. She lives in India. India is currently being consumed by COVID19. It's so bad that they are having mass cremations and burial services. They have had roughly about 29 million cases, with about 400,000 of those being deaths. Unfortunately, my grandmother was one of the 400,000. ​ Within ten minutes, my brother who lives in Greenville, was able to pick me up from the hospital and take us back to Spartanburg to comfort my mom. I spent the rest of the day being a shoulder for her to cry on. I was destroyed by the saddened news...but my mom. She was devastated.

I'll miss you, Avo. Thank you for always loving me and giving me a little bit of pocket money when I would come visit you in India. You will never be forgotten.