“I sat there with tears streaming down my face, realizing I had found my voice again, my hope again and my faith again…” I always like to start at the end when I tell my story, though my story is far from over, to remind myself how far I’ve come. Now, let’s go back to … Continue reading A singing miracle: How finding my voice helped me heal
They’re everywhere these days. You see them in parks, on sidewalks, even in the streets, and people of all ages are using them. I’m talking about electric scooters, or e-scooters, and they are causing quite the alarm. As an orthopedic trauma surgeon, I’ve seen very few scooter-related injuries over the years — until this year. Unlike … Continue reading An orthopedic surgeon’s take on the e-scooter craze
Sometimes in life, we’re given second chances — opportunities to start over and make something different of our lives. My second chance came in the form of a car accident in 2007. I don’t remember much of the accident itself, but I do remember my left arm scraping against concrete and then driving my car … Continue reading Learning to appreciate life after my traumatic car accident
It’s only thanks to Siri and a leather belt that I’m able to tell this story today. What started out as a day of simple yard work quickly turned into a life-or-death situation. In mid-October 2017, I decided it was time to cut down an old mulberry tree in my backyard. Not in the mood … Continue reading Stop the Bleed: Knowledge that saved my life during severe injury
With the introduction of bicycle sharing programs popping up around the country, more and more cyclists are sharing the roads, making bicycle safety an ever-important topic. The Level I Trauma Center at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, sees many injured cyclists each year, especially from those not wearing helmets. … Continue reading 11 bike safety measures to remember
In the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in American history, many of us are left feeling grief-stricken, anxious or helpless. The horrific images etched into our minds are tragic remembrances of events that have become sadly familiar. When will the deadliest finally be the last? As humans, our empathetic response is expressed through our … Continue reading When tragedy shakes a nation, focus forward through action
Would you know what to do if you witnessed someone with life-threatening, uncontrolled bleeding? The Department of Homeland Security’s “Stop the Bleed” campaign aims to equip you with this knowledge. Initiated earlier this year, the “Stop the Bleed” campaign teaches police officers, emergency medical services (EMS) and the general community about the proper application and … Continue reading Would you know how to “Stop the Bleed”?
Thursday, July 7 started off as a normal evening. I was on call as the trauma surgeon at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and was documenting for a previous trauma case when I heard my beeper go off. With those beeps, everything changed. I heard multiple sirens approaching. Although I had no idea what … Continue reading I will remember July 7
The events of last week will likely forever be burned in our memories, whether you were on the scene that night or watched it from the other side of the world. The shooting of 12 individuals, including the death of five police officers, the fear and horror that unfolded live in front of millions of … Continue reading Restoring hope after tragedy strikes
Sadly, our nation again has experienced what can only be described as a horrific event. The mass shooting in a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, is considered to be the deadliest mass shooting in United States history. Not only were 50 individuals killed, but more than 50 have apparently been brought to local hospitals for treatment. In … Continue reading Coping with the psychological impact of a mass shooting
