There is a united feeling of exhilaration in the Wilkinson home, because after years of hard work and dedication provided by the amazing Brandon, he has been accepted into Medical School! I have been patiently waiting to post the events leading up to this occasion, and you my fellow (10) readers have been just as patient. This might explain the last ::year:: of my lack-of-posts. Or I could be using it as an excuse. But this last year has been one of growth, answered prayers, humbling experiences, disappointments, tears, laughter, and faith.
I am so proud of my husband and his accomplishments. The road has been long, tears have been shed, frustration and disappointment have occurred, and all along Brandon’s faith and desire to become a Doctor never wavered. I wish I could have said the same for myself. Being the bystander, not fully comprehending what was going on in his mind, often times left my faith being tried. The questions and doubt never lasted long, though. I saw the determination and dedication in my husband and I knew he was destined to do what he has always wanted to do.
It all began in 2007, Brandon’s plan was to finish school, marry me, study hard for the MCAT, and then enter into Medical School August of 2008. Our plans changed a little bit after we found out I had been diagnosed with cancer. So by my hospital bedside my Prince Charming would sit, when he knew he had about 15 MCAT books waiting for him at home. He pre-registered for the MCAT in February, planning to take it on July 13, 2007. Sounded like a perfect plan. Well, July 13th came only 6 days before our wedding, and only 12 days after my second emergency surgery. But my brave Groom walked into the Testing Center and took the MCAT anyway. He didn’t even study a wink. And he beat the monkey!
2008 brought some new challenges, but Brandon still had a plan to apply. We knew that applying that year would be a little premature, but he had finished all of his requirements, and why not get a jump start? The results from his test weren't as desired, but we still hoped, and then were declined. Trying to look at it positively, we felt that going through that process not only humbled us, but brought us closer together. We gained experience for the next year, and Brandon's drive only became stronger.
Enter 2009: Brandon spent hours upon hours doing everything he could to improve his Application (which, if you ask me, was already the most well-rounded application I had ever seen. No bias needed). He enrolled in an extensive MCAT class, shadowed an awesome Anesthesiologist, mentored high school students (for free!), wrote an amazing Personal Statement, and then submitted his application in June of 2009. He had an interview in November 2009 at the University of Utah. We were excited, but still cautious. Because we had been down that road once before.
January 2010 we received some GREAT news: Brandon was accepted into the Saba School of Medicine. A US Accredited Medical located in the Caribbean. Never heard of it? Neither had we. But the school was one of the Top 3 in the Caribbean, and it would have only been 2 years before we transferred for Rotations into the US. We could do that. Located here:
We thought it would be a great adventure, and as the days went on we started packing our bags for Student Orientation in May 2010. I started daydreaming about sipping Pineapple Smoothies on the beach and walking barefoot to the local General Store. Come to find out, the island relies on a Cistern and the rainfall for their running water. Showers twice a week? I could do that! We secured our seat deposit, so we knew: No matter what happened, Brandon was Med School bound for 2010. What a good feeling that is. I cancelled my gym membership, Brandon sold about everything we own on KSL Classifieds, and we started planning on being Caribbean babes for the next two years.
Ever since I knew Brandon, he has set and achieved about every goal and aspiration he puts his mind to. That is just the type of man that he is. When we were dating, he told me he wanted to become a Doctor, and he wanted to go to the University of Utah.
The tone of our prayers changed from the first year we applied, to the second year we applied. We would pray that we could get accepted into the U of U Medical School, we would plead, we knew it was where we were supposed to go. This past year, our prayers changed that the Lord would put us in the place that HE needed us to be. The right place, the right school, the right experience…we knew it was all up to the Lord and where HE wanted us to be. So we turned our will over to the Lord, and prayed and fasted, and prayed and fasted some more that Brandon would be able to continue in his dream and become a Doctor.
Because we have been so transient lately (sidenote: we moved to Sandy…that’s another blogpost), we use Brandon’s parents address as our permanent residence. This is an important part of information that you don’t THINK you need to know, but you do.
On March 17th we were sitting at home, it was about 10PM and Brandon’s phone rang. It was his Mom. She said she had just gotten home, and that there was a letter in the mail from the University of Utah. Brandon’s first question was, “Is it a small envelope, or is it a big envelope?” She said it was a small envelope. In our experience, we knew that a small envelope = rejection. We dropped to our knees and prayed that we would have faith and patience in the Lord’s plan, and then we got in the car. We drove and met her halfway to pick up the envelope. The 15 minute drive back home felt like 2 hours. We didn’t say a word. I didn’t even hold the envelope. I put it on the floor of the car. I worried that my amazing telepathic skills might be able to sense something through the envelope ;).
We made it home. We walked in the door. Brandon stood with the envelope and I stood behind him peeking over his shoulder. The letter was out of the envelope, but all we could see was Brandon’s name and address. He folded it once to read the words,
“Dear Brandon,
I am delighted to….”
And then all heck broke lose on my end. I screamed, I jumped, I jumped and straddled Brandon. I sobbed. Brandon was literally HOLDING me on his waist, while trying to balance the letter in his other hand. “Wait!” He said, “Let me read the whole thing and make sure that’s what it said!”
He finished, “I am delighted to offer you a position into the 2010 Freshman Class of the University of Utah School of Medicine.”
I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of Brandon. This was an absolute answer to our prayers, a true miracle on our behalf. But it was also complete proof of how amazing my husband is. He never ONCE gave up. He never ONCE wavered in his determination to fulfill his dream. He deserves this more than anybody I know. In fact, as I type this I am getting a lump in my throat :)
Mind the crappy iPhone pics, our camera broke. Which I will say is ANOTHER reason why I haven't been blogging :)
The celebratory table at our new apartment. Notice the Red and White balloons (with a little bit of Royal Blue sprinkled in ;)
This was a Celebration Dinner TWO YEARS in the making. We went to Outback, and I told Brandon he could order whatever he wanted. He deserved it. Well, he definitely ordered whatever he wanted. Both of those plates are his! Full rack of ribs and a New York strip steak were on the menu for him that night. We figured we'd pay it off with one of the many things Brandon sold on KSL, since now we get to KEEP everything we own and not live out of a suitcase for the next 2 years.
