You know how it goes... Resident doctor without a clue meets a cute nurse with a pretty cool dog. ALOT of perseverance, one frat party and an almost missed first date...and well... the rest is as they say history! 8-ish years later, two cities, two dogs, numerous adventures, and a lifetime to go!

It comes as no surprise that my first memory of Kortni involves her dog Dublin. Anyone who has met Kortni, I can almost guarantee that withing the first 10 minutes of meeting her, you will undoubtedly know two things. 1. She is full of energy (loud) and 2. Dublin is the love of her life. Both of these characteristics were never mor evident than my first memory of her. It all started like a Grey's Anatomy episode: at the hospital. I was two months into the second year of my residency striving to prove myself and full of confidence of already having successfully completing one year. I remember sitting at my computer work station one shift trying to focus and be a great doctor when all I kept hearing was a very energetic (loud) nurse talking about how she took her dog, Dublin kayaking at White Rock Lake and how she sounded like a damsel in distress as she struggled to paddle with a dog approximately the same size as her. At that moment, I knew I wanted to ask her out sometime but that also I need to switch computer stations! Next, I needed a way to ask her out without being reported to HR or laughed at! Sometimes ER nurses can be ruthless! Unfortunately, this would have to wait another couple of weeks as Kortni would be traveling to Europe (go figure!) Fortunately, during those weeks she was gone, one of her friends was putting together a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend who happened to be one of my co-residents and friend. I knew this was my chance! The week of the birthday party, full of confidence I ran into Kortni in the hallway and confirmed that she would be going and that I looked forward to hearing all about her trip. Little did she know that the trap had been set and she was going to spend the rest of her life with me...

As most of you know, I moved to Dallas right after college to take a job in a big city, in a state I had never even visited. I was looking to find adventure and myself somewhere out there. I was two years into my three year work contract and at this point I knew the stereotype that existed of nurses dating residents/doctors and I just knew that would NEVER be me! I didn’t have time to get tied down because I was not planning on being in Texas long term. I was entering this beautiful moment of life where it was going to be just me and Dublin, a girl and her dog era. But life never really works out as planned because well….insert David Doyle, resident doctor. We had worked together a few times, nothing memorable, I mean it’s work! It was busy and there really wasn’t that much time to socialize. I remember thinking he was cute and maybe we would share a smile here and there. It wasn’t until a friend from work (who was a nurse dating a resident) was throwing a frat themed party for her boyfriend. I remember David running down the hall of the ER to stop me to ask if I was going to the party. I told him I was and he told me how he was just really excited to get to hear all about my recent Euro trip! I’ll never forget thinking, “Man, this guy is eager!” Ha! Our first time hanging out was dressed as frat guys drinking from a keg. Fun fact, it is also when the first photo of us together was taken! After that, it’s true what they say, “Perseverance pays off!” Because David asked me out many, many times after that party until I finally said yes, but I am so thankful that I did! Because meeting David and creating this life together has been the greatest adventure of my life thus far! And I am just the luckiest person to get to marry him and continue the adventure!