Everyday when I'm walking into the hospital I ask for strength to get me through the day. I tell myself at that time and throughout the day to stay positive and always make the right choice. Some days are more stressful than others. Sometimes the pressure gets the best of me and I loose sight of the importance of choosing my attitude. For me, it's always about the patient, not the doctor's, time crunches,etc... Not about my life and the "problems" that cause me stress. I check that at the door. Some days I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, and I come to work run down with a negative attitude. It never fails that on these days, at some point I will encounter a patient that puts me in check. By that, I mean, their story makes my "issues" seem so small.
Yesterday I took care of a 12 year old boy, Aaron, who was getting a spinal surgery. He was born with spina bifida and scoliosis. He is paralyzed from the waist down and is wheelchair bound. His surgery was geared at relieving some of his pain in his upper back. He came in last Friday to get a tour of the unit. I met him that day and had a "feeling" I would take care of him on Monday. I was right. He was very nervous when I went into his room the morning of surgery. He told the child life specialist he was afraid he would die. He spent 10 hours in the operating room. He lost all the blood volume in his body. His anesthesiologist saved his life by stopping the surgery. He came from the ICU today for the surgery to be completed. He is in the OR as I type. I pray he makes it through.
There are things in my life right now that cause aggravation,irritation,frustration. Things that I LET get me stressed out and agitated. Things that are insignificant compared to what this boy and his family are going through right now. I am blessed to only have these minimal causes of stress in my life. And I am blessed that I get daily reminders of just how trivial they are.
I write this to vent, I write this remind myself in the future, and I write this to remind each of you that life is precious, please do not waste it being focused on the negatives. Realize that someone next to you is struggling more than you. Be thankful for your gifts and your life. Embrace your family and those around you.
4 comments:
Annie, thanks for the reminder that we all have much to be thankful for. Our "stuff" doesn't seem so important when we encounter the Aarons of the world. My prayers are with him and his family. I pray that as I write this, he is out of surgery and amazing his doctors and nurses.
Keep being the loving, caring nurse that you are.
I love you,
Mama
You are an inspiration Annie- thank you for sharing!
Katie
Annie, you have always been a kind person with a tender heart. Those 2 characteristics are what led you into a nursing career. I have encountered many in the medical profession that should not be there. YOU were placed in the children's hospital by the Lord. The kindness and the consideration that you show to your patients may be the only good thing that they experience the entire time of their hospitalization. There may be many "outside" sources to cause you frustration and anxiety, but you, my dear, are one in a million. You are able to check that stuff at the door, put on your big girl panties and deal with it! How I envy your wisdom.
I love you and I especially love that you have the desire to help those that can't help themselves.
That is what makes you ANNIE!
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