I am back after an extended absence from this website. It has been over two years since I last sat at my computer and created a post for the EMS Soapbox. In those two years I have learned a lot, and I would like to share some of my new found knowledge with you.
On being a grandfather
What can I say? It’s fun, and exhausting, and challenging. I now have two wonderful grandsons, one from each of my two wonderful daughters.
The youngest, Cohen, had a rough start to life and spent his first week in the NICU at St. Boniface and the second week in Children’s Hospital at HSC. I cannot say enough about the amazing staff, and how well cared for he was, and also how well cared for my daughter was. We had no idea what to expect, and it was, in a word, terrifying. Cohen is now almost 11 months old, walking everywhere, happy, healthy and doing great.
Krew, my oldest grandson, is now two and a half years old, talking non-stop, just started Timbits Soccer, and is curious about everything he sees. He loves trains, planes, and automobiles; birds, bugs and bears. He can count up to ten (with some coaching), knows all his basic colours and shapes, and loves to have books read to him.
On blogging
Okay, this has been my biggest learning curve and challenge. I started this website with some ideas and inspirations, but apparently with not enough of a plan. I had no idea how often I should be putting out new material, and also apparently I did not comprehend how much work it would be. So when I started school again two years ago, as well as still working full time, there wasn’t much time for anything else.
Knowing this now, and with school winding down finally, I will get back to work on the Soapbox. But this time around, I will have a plan. Start small, work up. No more than one blog post per month for now. And plan ahead, so that I have ideas ready to go and can do any needed research well in advance. Of course there will still be the odd time where I will put together a commentary post, with my thoughts on a current topic or event relating to EMS.
On going back to school
With the creation of a College of Paramedicine in Manitoba, I decided that the time was right to enroll in the Advanced Care Paramedic program at Red River College. A bold move, considered a number of factors. There are no longer any tax incentives for tuition (other than the standard monthly deduction while a student), there is no increase in wage for ACPs rurally, and the ACP scope of practice is not allowed to be used in rural Manitoba. So after two and a half years of school, and many thousands of dollars in tuition fees, nothing really changes at work, except that I have a deeper knowledge pool to base patient care decisions on (which is one reason I am doing this anyway). The final factor to consider is that I will be 59 years young when I graduate. The last time I was in a proper post-secondary education program was 1981. It has definitely been a big adjustment for me, and I would not have been able to accomplish this without support from family and co-workers.
Moving forward
I will be posting monthly, and planning ahead so that I can give this website the attention that it deserves. As before, my goal is to engage the reader, promote discussion, and help to move EMS forward as a profession, not only in Manitoba, but across Canada and around the world. Comments and constructive feedback are always welcome.
Thank you
Mike MacKenzie