Brynn and Bre, sunshines in scrubs, were instrumental in his recovery. Brynn was never without that smile – pretty sure that sweetness is permanent. Bre, in front, was one of his favorite nurses for surgery #2 and just down the hall…but she remembered Sam and made sure to come add some rays to his room this time, too.
because he is under the watchful care of an angel
whose name is Missy.
Missy is smart.
Missy is a teacher nurse, and she educated us every step of the way,
wearing the invisible wings that wrapped Sam tight.
She gives shots by saying, “1-2-3-I’m-sorry.”
We didn’t get pictures of Courtney or Jenelle, Andre the A on the Anatomy Tester, or Marissa, or Michael, or Monica, Alyson, Jeanene, Sadie, Kelley, D’Anthony, or Sierra. But this large nursing team that had a part of the caregiving in Room 7101 made a huge difference in Sam’s progress and eventual release from Cambridge Tower.
Nursing is TOUGH.
A year ago, a beautiful soul chemo nurse at KU Cancer Center visited with us about the reason she chose to go from working in the hospital setting to working in chemo treatment.
She said that working in the hospital was difficult, because her patients never wanted to BE there – they wanted to get OUT of the hospital. Attitudes were typically very challenging.
But working in the chemo department, the attitudes were usually very different. These patients almost ALWAYS wanted to be there in treatment, because treatment was giving them hope and life.
As we called the 7th floor home for 11 days, we were able to observe the nursing staff hour after hour after hour. In addition to the medication giving, the IV sticks and fluid changes and beeps and machines that needed constant watch and administration, we watched them speak kindness to Sam when he was doing well and when he wasn’t so well and not the most communicative.
We watched them care for Sam in the less-than-beautiful, the messy of an ostomy reversal and incision drainage. They taught me how to assist Sam by cleaning him, by moving him from side to side to change a “chuck” pad for the bed. They never acted like they didn’t have time for his many “nurse call lights.” They refreshed the room with clean bedding, taking trash, removing soiled linens and empty food trays. They brought ice chips and cups of jello.
And every time, every staff person, without fail, said, “Is there anything else I can do for you? Can I get either of you anything?”
We never sensed they were having a bad day. We never felt anything less than being the most important room on the floor. They are the best of KU Medical Center, and even though Sam didn’t want to be there and wanted to get out, this team of nurses and assistants sure do make us want to go back, just to see them again.
For the team on 7th floor in the Cambridge Tower, we are very, very, very grateful.
rhondaisgrateful 
Thank you, Rhonda, for your posts – this one was special. Prayers for Sam. I pray he keeps gaining ground each day! Thanks for your ministry of gratefulness. I don’t always get to each one, but I appreciate your willingness to “be there” for others!
Peace, Suzanne
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