Ok, that was just dramatic code for saying Ryan started work today - his real job, finally after 14 years of training, and yes, in our mid-thirties. But truly, in a way it really is the first day of the rest of his life as a fully-employed working man, out on his own, saving the world, one eyeball at a time.
To commemorate the occasion and give due props to him for a career that has been 14 years in the making, I thought I'd give a little ode to Ryan. When they have their final graduation for all the leaving residents and fellows every year at Bascom Palmer, they do a little life sketch on those leaving, often a bit humorous as well. So this was what I had turned into them to sum up Ryan's life, and especially his time training in Miami.
This is probably how the Isom family will remember Ryan the most over the last 5 years when he came home after those long Bascom Palmer hours.... :)
Yep, that's about right. :) He was TIRED.
A few pictures of his upbringing....
Eighth in a family of nine kids:
Growing up on a cattle ranch:
His hobbies: biking...
(I believe this is the Rock of Gibralter.)
Skiing:
Winning money:
And having babies :)
(Granted in Utah this is no big whoop, and probably only the start of a larger family, but in Miami this is pretty amusing. They always joke about not being able to keep track of how many kids he has, it's such a novelty.)
And while everyone else got to go home from a hard day at work and unwind, I always felt bad that this was what Ryan got to come home to.... :)
A definite family man:
And all jokes aside, he really is a great dad:
He worked incredibly hard to do so well in residency and fellowship and gained a great reputation among colleagues and patients. We're so proud of him. Sometimes a little stunned that he really operates on people's eyeballs. Loved hearing about the times when he was the first thing someone saw after a successful surgery when they hadn't been able to see in years, or when he was successful at helping keep someone from losing their vision. I know it was hard, had lots of ups and downs, and was sometimes even gut-wrenching, but it paid off and from what I hear he's a great and gifted surgeon. We love you!
And thanks to Bascom Palmer for the great training, experience and good times. We will definitely miss Miami and are truly blessed he got the opportunity to train there.
