When in aerospace all engineering changes came thru me first on a black program. I had to be able to think clearly and effectively with all engineers on that program. During that time I took the CA Basic EMT course and volunteered for a variety of off road venues. It required me to be able to assist those injured and taking command of the scene as there were no police nor firefighters. After being transferred to GA while in aerospace , I completed their EMT Program. It had always been my dream to become an RN, and utilizing my EMT skills, at age 45 made the decision to leave my excellent salary and aerospace position and return to school to obtain my RN degree. Learned from my weekend off road events, trauma was where my heart was. After obtaining my EMT Cert, also became a volunteer National Ski Patroller. I became an ICU Nurse Tech and started back to school. I loved my job and once the ICU RN's became aware I was in school, they taught me so much and allowed me to assist an ICU physician and the RN's in minor procedures and learning valuable on the job training. I was never able to finish schooling as the then RSD, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy took everything I had worked so hard for away from me. Having learned so much about RSD, quickly became my own expert in pain, had to because most physicians do not know what RSD is. Like so many in pain we have become advocates, our own champions and glean everything we can on pain, treatments and educating our treating physicians. It has been an uphill but interesting battle.