It’s Nurses Appreciation Week….
How do we thank them for all they do for us? I’ve come to the conclusion it’s just impossible to do that.
Nurses are the life-line between patient and care, between patient and doctor, between patient and comfort.
In Cancer World, they are the keeper of the keys to our well-being.
They make us feel like we’re their only patient, when we know many more came before us and many more will be seen after us. They remember what was bothering us on the last visit and ask how we’re feeling today. If the chemo is causing side effects, they will see it on our faces from across the room and almost by magic, a gentle hand will appear to provide some extra support.
If cancer has forced us into a hospital bed, it’s the nurses who fill the blank spots in the long days and lonely nights away from our families. A check for vitals can turn into a conversation, not about cancer, but about the day outside, or a new movie, or a family event. Anything to make the time pass a little quicker.
Nurses are not just about medicine. They are there to catch us when cancer makes us stumble.
I salute them…every one of them.
May 12, 2011 @ 1:11 pm
The doctor told Rick and his wife this cancer is hereditary. The doctor wanted to know who in the family had colon cancer? Rick is in his fifties but if someone in his family had colon cancer before he should have been screened at least ten years earlier than say for example I would since I don’t have that risk factor.
They asked the parents. Ricks parent said that yes there had been deaths from colon cancer but it is not pleasant to talk about. So now his siblings are all rushing to get screened because talking about it was not nice and they had no idea how at risk they were.
Perhaps having the crap scared out of you about your husband-father-brothers mortaility and your own mortality is more nice.
May 12, 2011 @ 7:18 am
I will always remember our nurses, my husband said they were all his moms.
May 11, 2011 @ 7:34 pm
Somehow just saying “thank you” to Jim’s nurses never seemed enough for all they had done for him. He was the best patient so nurses fawned over him everywhere he went so he usually got a double dose of smiles. I hadn’t thought much about it until you mentioned it in your post but their conversations were mostly about things other than cancer and weaving in the facts about whatever was going on so seamlessly. I know we all have so many stories of something wonderful a nurse did for our loved one. Thank you all for what you do!
Irene…prayers are with your family.
May 11, 2011 @ 6:04 pm
Just minutes ago i started eating dinner and an email on my phone says my brotherinlaw Rick has colon cancer and needs surgery now and all that goes with it. He is a health nut, did everything right, is way too young. It never is fair.
May 12, 2011 @ 10:57 am
Irene… I am so sorry to hear that. I am sure you are still in a state of shock regarding this news. Cancer is never fair, but it seems especially hard when the patient has done everything they could to avoid these types of problems. I will keep Rick in my prayers.