It is International Nurses Day!
www.awarenessdays.com
This day is a painful, bitter and muted celebration in our home
My wife is a professional registered nurse. She took on the profession at a time when she needed something to get her out of the home.
She completed her 4-year diploma in the 90s and found her niche in critical care nursing (CCU) in a public hospital. She thrived and learned all she could from the senior, experienced Sisters in the ward.
After a short stint doing CCU in the UK (working 12 hours a day for 6 days a week), she returned to critical care nursing in a private hospital. During this time, she completed was allowed to study critical care nursing (a full-year course).
When we moved to the big smoke, she opted to leave full-time nursing and work in a doctors' practice where their speciality was cardio (or the heart).
I was happy about her decision, as the hours of work were long, mixed between nights and day, and she needed a change of pace. In addition, there were too many moments of heartache along the way. When you look after critically ill or injured patients for weeks, there were some to whom she grew emotionally attached.
The "highs" are those where they make a full recovery and get to go home. There is joy and reward in these moments.
Unfortunately, there are some, despite every effort and loving care poured selflessly into there care, who don't. The heartache, tears and pain are real.
These moments are even more intense when the patients are children.
This morning early she received a call from a mother to let her know that her lad died this morning.
My wife is devastated. There is no way to console the loss and pain she feels.
This lad was a truly special fighter. Extraordinary in every sense of the word. He was not even 10 when he needed a new heart. At that age, as I understand it, transplant is not possible. Through his mother's determination and perseverance, he got an artificial heart.
He did well with his artificial heart - to the point that he was old enough to consider a transplant.
That moment came when a donor's heart his. These are bittersweet moments, as someone died for the opportunity to come.
The lad got his new heart and came through the experience.
While I don't know why things happen as they do. Medicine is not my speciality.
What I do know is that my wife lived every moment with this lad and his mom. From the beginning, she invested every bit of her knowledge, heart and soul in the hope that he would live a long, happy life. I only know this special lad's history through the voice of my wife.
He was a part of our "extended" family.
He is gone too soon
For his mom, family and friends, I offer heartfelt, sincere condolences. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Rest in peace.
To all the nurses out there, you have my respect and thanks for the work you do.
Happy nurses' day!
International Nurses Day 2021 - National Awareness Days Calendar 2021
Organised annually by the International Council of Nurses, International Nurses Day celebrates the contribution that nurses make to societies around the world. […]
www.awarenessdays.com
This day is a painful, bitter and muted celebration in our home
My wife is a professional registered nurse. She took on the profession at a time when she needed something to get her out of the home.
She completed her 4-year diploma in the 90s and found her niche in critical care nursing (CCU) in a public hospital. She thrived and learned all she could from the senior, experienced Sisters in the ward.
After a short stint doing CCU in the UK (working 12 hours a day for 6 days a week), she returned to critical care nursing in a private hospital. During this time, she completed was allowed to study critical care nursing (a full-year course).
When we moved to the big smoke, she opted to leave full-time nursing and work in a doctors' practice where their speciality was cardio (or the heart).
I was happy about her decision, as the hours of work were long, mixed between nights and day, and she needed a change of pace. In addition, there were too many moments of heartache along the way. When you look after critically ill or injured patients for weeks, there were some to whom she grew emotionally attached.
The "highs" are those where they make a full recovery and get to go home. There is joy and reward in these moments.
Unfortunately, there are some, despite every effort and loving care poured selflessly into there care, who don't. The heartache, tears and pain are real.
These moments are even more intense when the patients are children.
This morning early she received a call from a mother to let her know that her lad died this morning.
My wife is devastated. There is no way to console the loss and pain she feels.
This lad was a truly special fighter. Extraordinary in every sense of the word. He was not even 10 when he needed a new heart. At that age, as I understand it, transplant is not possible. Through his mother's determination and perseverance, he got an artificial heart.
He did well with his artificial heart - to the point that he was old enough to consider a transplant.
That moment came when a donor's heart his. These are bittersweet moments, as someone died for the opportunity to come.
The lad got his new heart and came through the experience.
While I don't know why things happen as they do. Medicine is not my speciality.
What I do know is that my wife lived every moment with this lad and his mom. From the beginning, she invested every bit of her knowledge, heart and soul in the hope that he would live a long, happy life. I only know this special lad's history through the voice of my wife.
He was a part of our "extended" family.
He is gone too soon
For his mom, family and friends, I offer heartfelt, sincere condolences. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Rest in peace.
To all the nurses out there, you have my respect and thanks for the work you do.
Happy nurses' day!