Grad school!

This past year (okay 2 years) have been a bit difficult for us. We're in that ridiculously not fun limbo stage. Trying to figure life out. Wanting to continue with school and poor Jason studying his heart & brain out all the time as he prepared for and took the Dental School Exam (DAT). He applied to dental schools, but didn't have any luck with that. So then he looked into being a Physician Assistant, that sounded great. Good hours, rarely, if ever on call, good pay. Perfect, So he prepared hard for that as well, studying all the time, working full time & shadowing. He took the GRE and applied to schools. Only one problem, he was applying a little too late. It's on a first come first serve kind of a basis. So the earlier you apply the better your chances are at getting an interview. We still applied and prayed from something to work out. 

Ironically something did, but it was not at all what we expected/thought. 

One day Jason was looking at Midwestern University's website, where he had applied to the PA program. They have a campus here, up in Glendale.  He was just browsing the website, looking at the colleges/programs they offered and stumbled on to "Cardiovascular Science/Perfusionist". 

What on earth is that??? Yah, we had not a clue.

He looked into it a little more. And became very intrigued. 

In laman's terms it is a profession that deals with open heart/lung surgery's. When the heart is stopped the blood still needs to be circulated and oxygenated throughout the body so it runs through a machine. That machine, well the person monitoring the machine, prevents bubbles (that could give the patient a stroke and die), oxygenates the blood and returns it to the body. And I'm sure lots more goes into it...

He decided to shadow a perfusionist and see how he liked it. He really enjoyed it. 

And decided he wanted to apply. We were hesitant with it being late in the applying season, and nervous to hear the outcome.... 

You see Midwestern has the largest class in the U.S., with only 30 openings. A couple of years ago the class size was 60. [Of course, in the words of my father in law, "Ellsworth Luck".]  UofA has a program, but their class size is only 3. Most of the programs are on the east coast with class sizes anywhere from 3-10. 

So with fingers crossed and lots and lots and lots of prayers, Jason applied. 

A couple of weeks later he got a phone call from the director of the program offering him an interview on Friday May 4th!!! 

We were so excited!!! 

A couple of weeks later Jason had his interview. He said it went really well. They gave him a tour of the campus and sat him down to interview him. He interviewed with 4 other applicants (although each was interview separately) and was interviewed by a couple of the professors. And thought the interview went well. 

We waited again for word of acceptance, or not....it felt like forever, but he got a phone call not even a week later, on Thursday May 10. Jason and I were out getting somethings for an upcoming YW event, we were at Michaels actually when Jason got the phone call. It was from the director of the program, Ed. 

He offered Jason a seat in the program!!!! 

with an official letter to come in the mail. 

We were thrilled!  {-although couldn't really react in the party supply section of the store.} 

YAY!!!

Jason gladly accepted. 

And starts school August 27th. 

That night he went to work. While he was gone Deacon and I made him a nice big sign. 

And we got to celebrate all weekend long.

And got him with silly string--although that freaked D out at first. He did not like it. But when he realized it was all in good fun, he had a good time getting Daddy. 

                                    

Jason, we're so, so Proud of you! You've worked hard at providing for us all and working to find the right career for you and us. Congratulations!!!! We love you!!