SHE'S READY FOR HER NEXT ADVENTURE

Julie is an award-winning dietician. You may remember the blog post I wrote about her in 2016/  https://confessionsofadisableddiva.blogspot.com/2016/03/shes-never-bored.html Julie works hard. Julie cares.

I didn't plan to write this blog post. I was afraid I would get too sappy. In a few weeks, Julie will be moving to a  new city to begin the next chapter in her life. I felt  I had to honor her in a post. If I get sappy, Julie, deal with it.

When Julie and I met I was crying. (What else is new?) I'd been at NHC for two days. I was a mess  She was not bothered by my hideous ugly cry. She was calming and reassuring. (She was calming and reassuring at my monthly weigh-ins which were traumatic for me. After my weight check she'd tell me to have the strawberry cream pit for dessert.) 

The weird thing is Julie has seen me at my best and at my absolute worst. Times when most people would have headed for hills without looking back. She was always there for me.  Julie made being at NHC better for me.

I always have sushi with Julie and our NHC friends, every year, for my birthday. (Except in 2020 thanks to  COVID-19)  

At Mi Fiesta Julie held my cup filled with a  Margarita for me. She kept refilling the cup until my head began to hurt. Not once did she utter the words that you would expect to hear in a nursing home, "Are you okay? I don't think that you should drink anymore."  Gracias, mi amiga.

All the things I could tell you about times I have spent with Julie I have already written about in other posts. 

There is one thing I have never written about that Julie had done for me. It is the thing that's meant the most to me. Every time Julie has gone to Mexico she has taken me with her. Not literally, but through her photos and gifts. I want you to know Julie that the shot glass from Puerto Vallarta is still in the envelope in my desk drawer. It's not because I don't like it. I love it. it is irreplaceable I don't want anything to happen to it. Keep the dream alive. Maybe we'll get to go to Mexico together someday.

Thank you for putting up with all of my craziness. I will miss you. I am not going wish you good luck, You don't need it  You got this. 

One more thing Julie. Don't forget me or I will find a way to come visit even if I have to roll there in my powerchair. I will find you. Chris can ride shotgun. Ha. I am so witty.

 I love you  Don't take any crap!!!

 

BURNED BRIDGES

Bridges connect us. They assist us in getting over rough terrain. Some bridges are made of steel/Some bridges are made of wood. Some bridges are covered, romantic Like those in the movie The Bridges of Madison County.

Bridges. They collapse. They burn.  leaving us disconnected. Alone.  Without a bridge to connect us, a place that was once so easily accessible, now seems a million miles away. 

No matter how much we wish we could turn back the clock, we can't. The bridge is gone. forever  Leaving in its wake twisted metal or a pile of rubble and ash.

Burned or destroyed bridges can leave us heartbroken.  Don't laugh. There is an actual diagnosis.

According to Google "Broken heart syndrome (also known as Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy)

is a group of symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, occurring in response to physical or emotional stress. Most people affected by broken heart syndrome think they are having a heart attack because symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, are similar in both conditions. However, those with broken heart syndrome do not have blocked coronary arteries, and usually make a fast and full recovery."

Ah, Google what would we do without you?

People tell us to build new bridges That's easier said than done. 

Broken bridges. Broken hearts. 

Pain. Sadness.

Make us stronger.

KEEP CALM...HUG A NURSE

Nothing ruins an evening more than being rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Arriving in the ER and being poked and prodded, having a myriad of tests done, and not being assigned a room until almost five o'clock in the morning. Yep, killed my night that's for sure.

You know what I noticed?  How kind everyone was to me. When I vomited, no one told me how disgusting it was or that they were not dealing with me because I might have Covid-19. EMT''s helped me. They reassured me. They saw how scared

I was.

In the ER I was given the same reassurance. No one chastised me for getting sick at the end of their shift. No one left me alone to finish paperwork they were three days behind on. The medical staff knew because i was lying down, if i got sick, I might aspartate. I was checked on frequently.

Once I was given a room, my nurse Sarah, as well as a student nurse, took great care of me. I was not told I irritated them when I asked a question more than once or told, Or that I was free to talk, but they did not have to listen or respond. They talked to me, Checked on me because I couldn't reach my call button. They cared. 

When I lived at NHC I wrote hurtful, negative blog posts. I have deleted them. I focus on my positive experiences while I lived there, but the memory of my words lingers on. NHC Town and Country Skilled Nursing Facility have a great nursing staff. I was only focused on myself and the negative. I refused to see anything positive. I got everything I needed. The nurses were kind and caring. They took their time with me. I was stupid. I could start naming names, but I might leave someone out. That would very bad. You know who you are. I hope I can see everyone again soon.

All of my procedures came back normal. I have one more to go. The scariest one. I have faith that with the assistance of a kind and caring nurse I will be just fine.

Nurses. They put themselves at risk every day. They put up with a lot of crap

Have you hugged a nurse today?

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