My wife is one of them. For nearly a decade she has tirelessly worked the 12-hour shift occurring on nights, weekends, holidays, and regular days at LDS Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah in the newborn intensive care unit working with premature infants.
I’ve seen Lynnette come home so tired and emotionally drained because of concern over one of her patients that I’ve wondered what she’s been doing all day. Because of HIPPA laws she is not at liberty to tell me. However, I know somewhere out in our community there is a family who is better for having my wife in their life during a challenging time period to provide comfort and medical care.
As a professional patient living with a severe heart problem, I have not only fallen in love with and married one of the finest nurses, but I’ve been cared for by hundreds of these folks my entire life.
A couple of weeks ago, I was extremely fortunate with my wife to host a party for the many pediatric nurses who cared for me during my seven-week stay in Primary Children’s Medical Center when I received a heart transplant. They don’t usually see each other out of scrubs, so we enjoyed a wonderful time eating food, talking, and listening to several musician friends play music.Photo: Some of my nurses from the PCMC CSU Unit
I could not think of a kinder group of people who selflessly serve and accommodate families without much public recognition. I can play a piece of music and an audience of a thousand applauds. Yet, these nurses tenderly and quietly care for individuals and no one knows about it except those involved. Such acts of kindness and service are the miracles distributed in the medical community.
Dear Paul............. As I read through your posts, I am in awe of how many lives you have touched. You have certainly touched ours. Jonathan continues to thrive, 7 1/2 years after his Fontan. One interesting note, that made me think of you. He is 14 years old now, and he recently had a friend who passed away. Jonathan has just begun to play the guitar, and he was so distraught over the loss of his friend. I suggested he write him a song, and that is exactly what he did. He had only been playing for a couple of months, never had a lesson, and he went and composed a song. Sound familar to you??? I was unnerved by the way he could take nothing and make something. Like our Creator. He continues to write his own music and has found another way of expressing the many gifts that God has given him. I am grateful for every day in his, and His, presence. Thank you for all of your inspiring words.
ReplyDeleteGail Nelson, for Scott and Jonathan Nelson
Oh how cool. I know everyone there, all wonderful people that I used to work with and now that I've had to quit to take care of my own heart baby, I see them from the other side. Taking great care of my child. Its so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHey! Those are a lot of familiar faces! We truly love the wonderful nurses we get to interact with. They become friends and were essential for helping us to navigate the world of hospital living. Thank you wonderful nurses everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI agree, they are awesome and very under appreciated i think. I'm glad you had a party for them, they deserve it! I couldn't do what they do every single day. I'm glad there's people out there who can :)
ReplyDeleteI've got to argue just a bit...The nurses in the ICS Unit at Primary Children's are the BEST! When you spend so much time in-patient they become not only your nurse but your friend. They are very capable kind caring souls.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I always make sure Casey's nurses from over the years see him when he is not a patient, but I never thought of giving them the opportunity to see him when they themselves are not at the hospital! I "heart" nurses!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet idea, Paul. I love that you had them over for a celebration and to thank them. You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post. Nurses are an incredible gift to their patients and they do more than just care for them physically. They are there to comfort us when times are tough...they are there to encourage us when we feel we just can't possibly handle all of this...they are our friends...and they become a big part of our extended heart family! Thank you for giving them the credit they deserve!
ReplyDeleteStef, Ryan, Wyatt and Logan
http://www.whenlifehandsyouabrokenheart.blogspot.com
Your sweet wife was one of our NICU nurses fairly recently and we love her too. She served us at the end of your wait for your miracle heart. I can't express the comfort we felt knowing that Lynette was on shift and caring for our babies. I can't imagine how she did it all in the midst of such trial. I started following your blog to check up on her. I'm so grateful you've been blessed with your miracles as we were with ours. Nurses truely are angels.
ReplyDeleteAs both a nurse at PCMC and a mother of a premature baby that spent time at IMC, thank you for your kind words towards nurses. Nurses have the best job in the world, but you are right...we don't get a whole lot of recognition or gratitude. However, when I see someone live the life that you are living despite the medical challenges you have faced, THAT is what makes it all worth it. I love the blogging world for that reason, because I can follow up on our patients and see that they go on living a better life. That to me is all the gratitude I need! Although I never took care of you (I did say hi once in the PICU - I'm a huge fan!!), thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words, and thank you for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful expression of gratitude. Its so amazing that these medical professionals enter your life and though you may not always be in such an intense relationship with them, they are never gone from you, from your memories or your heart~ I am so excited to get to photograph the wedding of one of my daughter's favorite nurses this coming summer... very few people understand the bond that our family has with some of our nurses and doctors but I am glad to see we are not the only ones!
ReplyDeleteWe really owe so very much to the many nurses across the country who have cared for Patrick (and for me). They've gotten us through some of the hardest times of our lives. How could we do it without them?
ReplyDeleteWe are so grateful for the nurses in our life, both as a heart mom and mom-in-law, three sister-in-laws, and two sisters that are nurses. When you spend so much time in the hospital, they become your second family. We love them so much for all they have done for us. It looks like my little girl Ellie might be faced with a transplant, so we have many more days ahead at PCMC. Thanks for continuing your words of inspiration. It helps us get through our day.
ReplyDeleteBeing a nurse I am very appreciative of what you have said. I hope you know how thankful we are for Lynette as well, as she took care of Alex 7 years ago in the NICU at LDS. We are also so thankful for those PICU nurses as they took care of our Luke just a few weeks ago when he was up there with the swine flu. I couldn't agree more with what you have said.
ReplyDeleteAw. Half those nurses helped Jack out during our summer there. They are the most amazing people and I admire them so much. Each day when I wake up exhausted there I would be greeted by a kind face, someone who was there for me, my son, our family, and it was such a comfort.
ReplyDeleteLOVE YOU NURSES!
We should all be grateful for helping hands not just in times of need.
ReplyDeleteYou are blessed and continue to bless us in return.
Paul as I have had the privilege of reading through some of your blog posts I have been truly touched and inspired. My little 7 year old niece passed away last year. Your music from Primary was playing as she passed from this life into the next. It was a great comfort to her, and to us, and in many ways has helped us heal and work through our grief.
ReplyDeleteLove to all the healers-- doctors, nurses, friends and family.....and artists who feel inspired by the spirit of Christ and can transform it into music.