About a year ago I was on a surgery rotation with a very outspoken female surgery resident (we will call her Sara Smith). Early one morning we walked into a patient's room and were greeted by a very kind, "Good Morning Miss Smith." All of the sudden I saw the resident's neck hair stand on end and her heart rate double as she replied, "My name is DOCTOR Smith. I have worked WAY TOO hard for that title, and I expect you to use it."
Not only was I beet red with embarrassment, I was shocked at how little about life this resident actually understood. As if a man is defined by the letters at the end of his name! While earning a medical degree is a great accomplishment, let me briefly tell you about something far more difficult, far more time consuming, and FAR more important.
Four years ago Lauren followed me out to medical school and we started a family. She was a much better student than me at BYU, she is much more diligent than me, and could have had her choice of graduate degrees. For the time being, however, she decided to raise our children. So, while I have been gone 80 hours a week at the hospital/library, she has been raising two children and taking care of me 168 hours a week. She is the ultimate multi-tasker, parenting, teaching, clothing, bathing, feeding, playing, serving, and working part time on the side. Because of her we have a beautiful family, a beautiful home, and a beautiful marriage.
Today we graduate from medical school, something I assure you could not have happened without my rockstar wife. Although the letters will follow my name, all the accomplishments within this family should follow hers. Thank you, Lauren BS WM, for being the most amazing (W)ife, (M)other, and support that I could have dreamed of. I am truly lucky to have you and I hope you can realize your accomplishments as you watch me put on that ridiculous gown.
BYU Graduation, 2007
12 comments:
That is so sweet Andrew and so true. You two are an amazing couple and you work so well together. Congrats to you BOTH, what a great day!
Wow, Andrew that is awesome to honor Lauren. So true, too! Medical school is a rough one on the wives, and Lauren does is very well. Congrats to both of you!
In four more years you will have to write a BOOK to thank her for staying with you through residency ;-) That's the real kicker! CONGRATULATIONS ANDREW!!!! We are so proud of you!!! And we are proud of Lauren for holding it all together, with a smile!
I love this! You two are seriously awesome. We have LOVED having you as such close friends all these years through medical school. It's hard to believe that we won't be neighbors anymore. What will we do without you?! Congrats to you both. We love you and think the world of you.
I love it. You are the best, Lauren! We were just talking about how thankful we were that we met you both during med school. We sure are missing you!
And Andrew, props to you, too! Not only for honoring your beautiful wife, but also for making it through med school. That is a FEAT! You guys work so hard and we are all grateful for it! Woohoo!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Congrats to you both. It's quite the journey to make it though and I know that you two worked together to make it a good experience.
Andrew that was so sweet of you to honor Lauren. I know that is why you are the right guy for her. You both are a great couple and together you will raise a great family. Congradulations to both of you for your hard work!
wow, I think this is an AMAZING tribute, well deserved. And I gotta say, I LOVE adding WM at the end of her name! Creative! I think I might start doing that myself...
and congrats to both of you!
Had to catch up on your blog... what a great post! I really felt a sense of accomplishment when Scott graduated as well, to be honest. It was more of a team effort than I ever imagined. Though most days I do think I have the easier job!
Congratulations to both of you. A degree and a beautiful family... definitely a well spent four years.
Andrew, you are an amazing person to work as hard as you do and still make the time to play with Luke, help Lauren, or make funny faces at Cameron to make him smile!!
Lauren, you are my hero. I keep hoping I'll be more like you some day!! I'm glad you two FINALLY got your act together and got married. You are doing and will yet do, many marvelous things together!! Love you both (actually, you four!!) :)
Kudos to you Andrew on your degree, and the smarts in picking such a great gal! She is a catch-you are a lucky guy.
Shhhhhh!!!!! You're giving the secret away. If everybody finds out how easy it is to be a doctor, supply will go through the roof and bottom out equilibrium prices for our labor.
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