Today I am sentimental about life.
Today I will blog about why I do what I do.
I am a nurse, mother, wife, author, and travel expert.
But mostly, I am a human with needs and feelings and experience in this world.
This morning on twitter, I was transported back multiple times to memories of my years as a nurse at the Mayo Clinic hospital in Minnesota.
Here are some of the life issues people on Twitter were dealing with today:
-One person was returning from a funeral of a 38 year old who died suddenly from a blood clot. Just 2 weeks ago the young father broke his leg. 2 weeks later dead – after a blood clot broke loose and ended up in his lung (blood clots are normal with broken bones – they stop the bleeding, the danger is when they break loose and travel to the lungs or brain).
(My 41 year old (healthy) sister underwent shoulder surgery last year and almost died when multiple clots broke loose and traveled to her lungs. Scary? yes – Life changing? yes -Crisis? Yes! UNEXPECTED? YES!!!)
-Yet another person posted on twitter about her husband dealing with radiation.
-Another posted about a non-operable tumor in her cousin.
-One guy posted how he had a horrible sore throat and congestion.
-A concerned mom posted about her daughter being diagnosed with strep throat.
-Yet another dad posted about his child dealing with fever.
-A friend posted about caring for a little one who was teething.
Each of these things affected the path of life for people today. From life changing to tension causing-it is these events that form our path in life.
I connected with each one of these people and offered any words of wisdom I could – but mostly just to connect and say – I care. One lady suffering with the loss of her son-in-law (her daughter a young widow and now single mother) reached out to another person who was hurting to say – “Watch for the rainbow. It comes when the light shines through the tears.” (@JulieHopkins)
This is why I became a nurse. My favorite part of caring for a new surgical patient? When they were waking from anesthesia- nauseated, in pain, confused – and scared. I felt the connection to this person’s inner core. No longer were they a CEO or a lawyer or a housekeeper. But instead – they were human. Experiencing raw pain and emotion. I would turn the lights down, swab their mouth with a cool lemon swab to refresh them, apply a cool cloth to their forehead, and most importantly reach for their hand.
I spoke to them like I would to my dad, my brother, my grandma. I understood that no amount of preparation can truly prepare a person and their family for the shock of what it is like to have a cancer diagnosis, lose your voicebox, and deal with a permanent tracheostomy along with all the secretions, drains, nausea, fear, pain, – not to mention the huge social impact of missing half of a face or a huge scar on your neck, etc.
It is also for this reason that I eventually left the hospital. Due to nursing shortages and budget cuts along with the increasing liability and litigation (forever documenting) – I was unable to continue to be this type of nurse. As soon as that patient was admitted to me, I was responsible for immediately beginning discharge planning and teaching this person to care for themselves. On top of this, I was this nurse to 5-10 patients at the same time.
There was no way to maintain this level of human care for this many patients AND keep up with the ever increasing duties of a nurse.
I am excited that I have discovered a way to tap back into the nurse I was – by reaching out online to others when they are hurting. I can offer resources I have discovered (tips, products, services), a virtual hug – or most importantly – just be the person to let them know someone does care.
Yes, this may sound sappy – especially if you have never really been scared or personally affected by a medical issue or death of a loved one. And believe me- none of my patients ever thought THEY would be patients! Personally as a sister and mother, professionally as a nurse, I know that when there is a physical pain or fear for the health of a loved one – life ceases to exist as we know it.
4 years ago my infant son was in ICU with a racing heart of over 300 beats per minute. My healthy, happy little baby – given a drug to stop his heart and restart it. When that didn’t work – the cardiologist literally suffocated my 6 month old baby with a rubber glove filled with ice – for the longest 15 seconds of my life. Enough to shock his heart into resetting. Since then we have dealt with cardiac appointments, EKGs, administering a Beta Blocker three times per day – and worrying every time he got a fever that it would trigger his heart to race uncontrollably. 2 years ago, when he was 2 – he underwent an MRI for what they thought was a brain tumor. LIVING HELL is what it is to be a helpless parent of a sick child. Fortunately, it was not a tumor and he is fine today thanks to a dedicated and intelligent Osteopath (who is also a direct gift from God!)
However, what did I learn during those awful weeks/months?
That it is the little things – it is the understanding, the hug, the communication of medical staff, etc. that really makes the difference.
My hope as I continue to define my role as a travel expert/consultant/nurse is to find practical solutions (products, services, tips) to provide for those who suffer – whether it be traveling with a ventilator, a bad hip – or even a teething baby – I continue to research the little things.
Because it is those little things that affect the quality of life.
Yes, I am in the process of defining what my company Jet Seven, Inc. is. But I can tell you that it is directly related to my experience as a nurse, mother, traveler, and human being.
I find packable peace – and offer it to every human – whether a CEO dealing with hemorrhoids on a long flight, a new parent dealing with sleepless nights or back pain, a grieving parent or one who is feeling helpless navigating the medical system with a child, or a teething baby on a plane. My passion is to travel – so I have applied this to how practical issues affect travelers. (www.JetSevenTravel.com) But really – I just want to be there – in some form, when someone is affected by these unexpected issues and unprepared to deal with the little things.
Thanks for “listening” – I am not sure the purpose of this post. But I feel better that I wrote it – and it helps as I continue to define my purpose. I pray that God would continue to lead me to where I am meant to be in this short life.
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