Memorial Day

I thank those who have gone before, leaving families, friends, babes in arms, children who would never know them except through photographs or home movies or stories told from the grieved spouses, siblings, brothers, sisters, parents and friends.

That sting of a lost loved one in the war was a pained expression I saw every year in my family. My grandmother next door wore it, some days with bearing and dignity, other days, with much distress.

These are a few of  the quotes that sum up what this day means to me.

I remember those brave men and women who answered America's call today and every day. I hope you will, too.

Until next time...

Never forget...

The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plain.
George McGovern

Ten years ago today, we learned the meaning of sacrifice, terror and felt the winds of change on a beautiful, sunny day.

Let us never forget all those lost, those grieving, and those fighting for freedom against terror around the world. Let us remember the good that has come from such terror and strive to live as those lost would have wanted us to do, remembering them with the honor they deserve.

Families

We see a lot of families crossing the threshold of Hotel Rehab. You name it...we get it. We get regular Joe and Jill nuclear families with 1.5 kids, and the whole enchilada of all those plus grandma, grandpa, all the aunts, uncles and cousins. 


In addition, we see families in various forms dysfunction often caused by divorce or disagreement. Since I've been at the Hotel, I've seen examples of the cute family with that 1.5 kids break down because, lo and behold, Wifey finds out (while Hubby is with us) that Hubby has another woman, and she's pregnant with his kid and wants to know who's going to support her now Hubby's been injured. Hmm...calling Social Work and Psychology right now for this one! 


But lately, lots of people are coming in who don't really have a family nearby. They've estranged them for one reason or another, have family members with their own significant health, financial or employment issues, or have simply outlived everyone in their families. We become their families, and they get really upset when they realize that they can't stay with us forever. One character mentioned suicide just to buy more time. 

Some others, however, end up going over to another unit, down the way, with the great view of nature and what awaits us all. Yes, we keep getting more and more people with terminal illnesses, and we are becoming a feeder unit for hospice. One of the non-nursing staff did ask a good question recently: if they stay so long that we're like their families, why do we throw them out when they're dying?


If only I had the time to tell him/her that we do it because we love them. We care about them, but sometimes it's a terrible duty for a rehab nurse to have to admit defeat. This patient will never regain function beyond what they have, and most likely, they'll lose it all before they die. We aren't set up to do hospice, and don't have all the comfort things they have readily available. 


Admitting our job is over doesn't mean we don't care. We do. Sometimes, though, we have to know when to say when and let someone else take over. Some of them will always be in our hearts and minds, especially on days when we remember them, as our unit did recently.



To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell, "Hallowed Ground"

Ironies, part two

First, you second-guess if you did the right thing for the patient that died. Did I miss some signs they had or were there so many problems which could mask another, that I couldn't keep them straight? You find out that you weren't the only nurse to wonder...and maybe the MDs are pissed because they couldn't see any signs, either.

Next, your boss calls you up to ask what the acronym SCD stands for. Lucky me, I got to answer the phone. And no, I didn't even look it up first.

After trivia, you get the assignment to take your patient to an appointment and are looked at as a rare oddity--an RN as escort. Your boss could have told you this yesterday when you asked who was going for one of the other staff, but no, the boss wanted to save that for you. What's more fun than rushing around gathering things for your trip at the very last minute?

Of course, accompanying this patient was a little like going as a star's attendant. Everyone there (I'm not kidding) knew his name. You'd swear I was with Norm from Cheers.

Finally, the weather was beautiful and I was trapped inside for a while, so I took the earliest opportunity to walk two blocks just to enjoy it....and all the ironies of the day.