The Power of Twitter

I'll admit, when I signed up for Twitter over two years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. Quickly, I figured out I was twitting.

It only took me two months to figure that out.

Then came the followers. Who were these people? Why are they interested in what I have to say in 140  characters or less?

Then I followed. Would I care about what any of these people twitted?

I was skeptical.

But, like a soldier, I marched on to the land of pound signs, wanna-be porn stars trolls, and short links which I was sure contained deadly computer viruses. Doesn't everyone know links all begin with www?

I was very unsure of the benefit of twitting.

Fast forward two years and 914 Twitter followers later and I... Get... It.

Twitter has allowed me a network of people I could never build in real life. It's my cyber-network.

Let me share this story with you...

The last few weeks, I've been spinning my wheels with our new start-up. My main goal? Funding. If you remember, we've learned our lessons with VC's. That's all I'm going to say about that. So, I've been feeling like I've been thrown in a time warp back to 19-yada-yada when I was beginning my career in marketing. Back then, we called it "Dialing for Dollars", now I'm calling it "Begging for Backing". Concept is the same, the terminology has just evolved.

In a move to make sure I have left no stone unturned, I tweeted about my plight and guess what? I got answers!

Specifically, I got specific answers and even contacts... I'm talking names and numbers of bankers who have even more answers for me!

Yes, out of the Twitter-land cloud, Ben, from Physician Family Financial Advisors emerged to help out another cyber-stranger. This kind man took time out of his days (weekends, even!) to research other avenues for me. I cannot express my gratitude. Ben went beyond and above for me.

Ben specializes in helping physicians and their families as they struggle through the financial roller coaster of being an MD.

If you have money questions, by all means... call Ben. His link is now on my sidebar for easy reference.

Tell him Emma and Twitter sent you.

Ask for Ben

*This recommendation is based from my own personal experience with Ben. This is not a paid sponsorship or endorsement. 

Medical Monday {March Edition, Volume 2)

This past week, I tried my best to escape living a Dr.'s Wife life. I packed myself up and left the house for a week... by myself... or so I thought.

After a series of unscripted events, I ended up with unexpected (but very welcome) company on my week my week of solitude.

My friend and her four-year-old daughter met up with me. It was eye-opening experience. You see, this little lady is living life with Cystic Fibrosis. In all likelihood, you do not know anyone with CF. Count yourself lucky... it is a terrible, terrible, rare genetic disease. It is a life of hospital stays of 17-20 days which feel much like solitary confinement. It's a life of expensive drugs, enzymes, high caloric diets, and multiple daily therapies which are each 45 minutes long. It's trying to shield your child from the common cold... for her it could possibly be deadly.

It's a life of fundraising in hopes of better drugs and hoping for a cure. It's a life of pleading with insurance companies, doctors, and pharmacies. There is no money for research. The pharmaceutical companies won't fund research... Cystic Fibrosis is such a rare disease, new drugs would not be profitable. Without a high return on investment, Cystic Fibrosis drugs do not fit the business model.

It is a heart-breaking travesty in every possible way.

So, to those of us who live the med life, I ask you to remember those who are living the flip-side of our med lives. Those are the patients and their families who are living their lives suspended somewhere between desperation and hope, praying for cures, praying for a healthy life

Now let's support all those who are living the med life!



March Medical Monday Link-Up and BlogHop

Are you confused if you qualify for the party?

If you have a pager interrupting your life... you DEFINITELY qualify!

Do you work in healthcare?

Doctor? Nurse? EMT? Chiropractor? Vet? Dentist? Therapist?

MA? NA? PA? DA?

Are you the spouse or SO of a healthcare worker/student?

Are you a nursing student? Medical student?

Intern? Resident? Fellow?

You get the picture, right? Come on, now... don't be shy! Let's keep growing and meeting new bloggers, so we can build a community of support and friendship, learn from one another, and share our stories.

LINK UP YOUR POST!

Here are the rules:

1. Follow your co-hosts via Bloglovin, GFC (if you are Blogger), FB, email or Twitter.
2. Link up you medical/med life blog. If your blog name does not clearly state how you fit in to the med/med life world, please write a little intro or link up a specific post which clearly demonstrates your connection.
3. Visit at least 3 other link ups, comment, introduce yourself, and tell the your stopping by or following from MM!
4. Help spread the word by using our button on your post or sidebar, tweet about Medical Monday, or spread the word on Facebook! The more the merrier for all of us.

Complete step one by following your co-hosts:

• Emma at Your Doctor's Wife
• Jane at From A Doctor's Wife
• Sarah at D-Isis (New ATTENDING!!!)
• Lisa at Lulu's Big Adventure (Med Student)

Want to be awesome? Help us spread the word by grabbing and posting the Medical Monday button on your post or sidebar...

<a href="http://www.yourdoctorswife.com/p/medical-mondays.html" target="blank"> <img src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r494/fromadoctorswife/MedicalMonday-001edit125x125.jpg"/> </a>

Want to co-host next month? Shoot Jane an email at fromadoctorswife@gmail.com and be sure to write "Medical Monday Co-host Request" in the subject field.

Now, link up below and have fun! The link up is open through Friday, so be sure to come back during the week to check some great reads!