Good morning & Happy New Year to all! Early morning greetings are the best, aren't they? 4 am and unable to sleep. Woke up to being unable to breathe........just a head cold fortunately, and the nasal passages are FULL! Flu of fever and muscle aches earlier this week has just gone to this head cold. So, I sprayed some nasal decongestant and received a head rush when one side got too much..... therefore its easier to just get on out of bed and type some thoughts on out of that merry go round going on in there. :-)
Kyle came home from the first day back at school this year, with the same flu as I, and we spent the day together at home on Tuesday. Fortunately for him, he only missed one day at school, and is back to normal routine; oh to be 13! Jayde & Del have managed to ward off the germs so far, and have been at work and school, and at the rink, like always.
I've been back at work-first shift back after Christmas was New Years Eve. A full moon on new years eve....makes you a little wary of what to expect. Nothing we couldn't handle, fortunately, but yes, it was steady, and yes, some people need a kick in the a**.
I'm going to try and create a mental picture for you of a situation at work-without breaking any confidentiality or anything like that! So work with me here, please.
I admit a patient late Thursday evening. A stranger to me. A very pleasant, elderly person. Is brought to us from another community due to a lack of beds in their facility. This patient is supposed to be a routine admission. I settle this patient in a bed, thinking that maybe they are sicker than initially thought. Color is off, respirations are labored, you know, you get that sinking feeling, when your instincts tell you that something is off. But this patient is grateful for any little thing that we do for them. Constantly thanking us and apologizing for any inconvenience they are to us. So, we treat this patient as we need to. I speak to the family on the phone, as they are a distance away. Very pleasant conversation on the phone. I'm impressed with the caring attitude I'm picking up from this family and patient. This patient tells me they have the best spouse in the world. They have the best kids in the world. The kids don't live close by, but one of the children has travelled across the world to surprise them on Christmas Eve with a visit for Christmas and a birthday. Tears in patients eyes as they tell me how wonderful a Christmas they had with their family.......I hope you're getting my picture. Very sweet. So, forward now to yesterday. I'm off my nights, and back on day shift. I get to see my patients with their room lights on. I get to meet patients when they're supposed to be up and awake. I get to meet visitors during normal visiting hours. This patient is still in my facility and I get to meet this family and see the interaction with each other. Its so tender and sweet. The words and emotions I saw the other night weren't empty. You can feel the love in the air between this couple and their family....... Tender touches, smiles, hugs, laughter, treats for each other, time, holding hands. Yes, it was beautiful! And then reality comes to bite-a CT report comes in. Results. Damn!! A 5 pm meeting with the doc and the patient and family-a bomb for this family. The results are accepted with tears, questions, and grace. 56 years together...... and now this. You know, I don't know how to aptly describe how tender this couple was...... they were emanating an aura of love and peace. For each other, totally. 56 years!!!! And the sweetness, respect, and caring was still there! Don't know where they've been along the way, but they still have it!
I've been so honored to have gotten to know this patient and family! What an example! How heartbreaking to watch this devastating news throw a wrench into this family's senior years! But how beautiful to be a part of it!
Don't know how this saga will end-time will tell-but I think I'll always remember this family, and hopefully I'll take a little bit of what I've seen, and apply it to my life.
And so I mentally prepare to go back to work today. Yes, I'm short of sleep, and my head and nasal congestion is sickening, but I will be just fine. And I'm gonna do a fine job at work, once again. So, I'm going to hit the shower. Have a wonderful day everyone!!! And please, if there's anything you take from this.......... appreciate the family you've been blessed with!
Del, Jayde, & Kyle- I love you!
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