Art and I went to Tripler Hospital yesterday. As we entered the hospital we noticed this huge banner above the entrance way.
It's NATIONAL NURSES WEEK! Yay for nurses! I have been grateful for every one of them. They are truly the patient advocates and are usually overworked and stressed. They have made a strong impact on my life.
The one nurse who I still remember fondly is Jeanne. I won't post her last name to keep her privacy. I had just given birth in the elevator of Great Lakes Naval Hospital. It was almost midnight and although Art informed the corpsmen of the urgency at the emergency entrance, they simply gave him a wheelchair and directed him to take me up by himself. Things have improved dramatically in the years following those days.
Whatever the case... my son was born in the elevator and Art delivered him. When we got out of the elevator a corpsman came strolling up to us. When he saw us, he ran in the other direction and we could only follow slowly.
That's when nurse Jeanne came rushing up to us. She immediately took over. She took our newborn son and suctioned his nose and did whatever needed to be done. She kept marveling at how calm we were. That's when they asked Art what my middle name was and he had to think. Jeanne laughed and said, "Aha! You're normal after all. I was wondering how you could both be so calm." Frankly, I think we were in shock.
I was taken to the operating room. The doctor who arrived was brusque and unhappy about having to be summoned after midnight and began stitching me up without any anesthetic. I tried my Lamaze breathing to stifle the pain. Jeanne held tightly on to my hand until she finally couldn't stand it and yelled at the doctor, "What are you trying to do? Kill her?" I was shocked and so grateful.
Things went better after that and she didn't leave my side until I was comfortably settled in the maternity ward.
A couple of days later, Art brought a baby book for our son and we asked Jeanne to sign it. She was like my guardian angel at the hospital and I'll never forget her.
I have several friends and relatives who are nurses. You know who you are. I'd just like you to know how much you are all appreciated. Thank you from all of us.
My nephew is now studying to be a nurse and I know for a fact that he will be one of the best nurses this island will ever see. Nurse Jeanne would be proud of him.
POSTSCRIPT: Oops! It's also National Teacher Appreciation Week! Yay!
It's NATIONAL NURSES WEEK! Yay for nurses! I have been grateful for every one of them. They are truly the patient advocates and are usually overworked and stressed. They have made a strong impact on my life.
The one nurse who I still remember fondly is Jeanne. I won't post her last name to keep her privacy. I had just given birth in the elevator of Great Lakes Naval Hospital. It was almost midnight and although Art informed the corpsmen of the urgency at the emergency entrance, they simply gave him a wheelchair and directed him to take me up by himself. Things have improved dramatically in the years following those days.
Whatever the case... my son was born in the elevator and Art delivered him. When we got out of the elevator a corpsman came strolling up to us. When he saw us, he ran in the other direction and we could only follow slowly.
That's when nurse Jeanne came rushing up to us. She immediately took over. She took our newborn son and suctioned his nose and did whatever needed to be done. She kept marveling at how calm we were. That's when they asked Art what my middle name was and he had to think. Jeanne laughed and said, "Aha! You're normal after all. I was wondering how you could both be so calm." Frankly, I think we were in shock.
I was taken to the operating room. The doctor who arrived was brusque and unhappy about having to be summoned after midnight and began stitching me up without any anesthetic. I tried my Lamaze breathing to stifle the pain. Jeanne held tightly on to my hand until she finally couldn't stand it and yelled at the doctor, "What are you trying to do? Kill her?" I was shocked and so grateful.
Things went better after that and she didn't leave my side until I was comfortably settled in the maternity ward.
A couple of days later, Art brought a baby book for our son and we asked Jeanne to sign it. She was like my guardian angel at the hospital and I'll never forget her.
I have several friends and relatives who are nurses. You know who you are. I'd just like you to know how much you are all appreciated. Thank you from all of us.
My nephew is now studying to be a nurse and I know for a fact that he will be one of the best nurses this island will ever see. Nurse Jeanne would be proud of him.
POSTSCRIPT: Oops! It's also National Teacher Appreciation Week! Yay!
it does seem like it's national everything day every day
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful nurse!
ReplyDeleteWhat a story! And what a wonderful thing that Jeanne was there for you on that fateful day. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect story for a week dedicated to nurses.
ReplyDeleteThere have been many great nurses in my life, too.
ReplyDeleteNurses are the greatest! Thanks for sharing your story, Kay
ReplyDeletenurses and teachers two unsung heroines...
ReplyDeleteForgetting the middle name isn't so bad. For I first, I spelled my wife's name wrong in admitting.
ReplyDeleteNurses and teachers ... are just brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story.
All the best Jan
Thank you for this. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing birth story, Kay! Our daughter is a nurse. It is a job I could not do!
ReplyDeleteTeachers and nurses are the 2 professions that I respect the most. They give to others and make a positive difference in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI have one in my family and several friends who are nurses. Wonderful people. Any I have dealt with in a hospital situation has been marvelous. I remember you gave birth in an elevator and Art was the deliverer but the nurse part was new to me. Glad you didn't have to count on the corpsman. Doubt he would have cared that you had no anesthetic. Funny about your middle name. Glad Art is human:))
ReplyDeleteHey, that's two very big weeks. Yes, nurses can make a very big difference.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing story Kay. Thank goodness for the Jeanne's of this world, for all those caring nurses and for all of you wonderful teachers out there :) and let's not forget the great dads who deliver their babies in the elevator ;)
ReplyDeleteNurses and teachers - both caring, people centered service providers.
ReplyDelete