Every year, as I enjoy the holidays with my family I’m always surprised how much things change: the town I grew up in, my family, my sister’s children.  For me, a lot has changed in the last six months.  In June, I started having problems following a conversation when discussing patients with my fellow physicians.  At the time, I was on a stressful rotation in my residency, and so I chalked it up to that.  I then started having problems with fatigue and balance as well, and the combination of my symptoms advanced to the point where I needed to take a leave of absence from my residency.  Being sick and unable to work has given me a lot of time to think about the role change plays in my life, and about change in general. Continue reading New Years and Changes →