I have only great expectations for this week. Have spent the last week
at Walter Reed (WR) National Military Medical Center with some of the
most challenged and courageous individuals that you will ever meet.
Overcoming challenge is what gives us purpose. As always, every Monday
is the chance to start anew. So let the games begin!
You cannot
walk the WR halls without meeting brave lives that were shattered by
war but now being rebuilt by some of the world's best doctors,
specialists, therapists and nurses. ... It can be awkward ... What do
you say? 'Gee, you are looking good' ... How do you look without
looking? Missing arms and legs and hands and feet have been replaced by
every contrivance of possibility in what now borders on sometimes cyborg
design. ... And then you realize that it all goes on ... yesterday
cannot be changed ... many of these wounded warriors have a smile on
their face and their family by their side. The children of these
warriors seem to adjust to their changed parent ... lots of smiles and
playfulness ... at least in the hospital where services are provided to
help the entire family evolve to what comes next: living life and
overcoming life's challenges.
About the nurses, I spent quality
time with 7 or 8 of them. There must be a special pill that each takes
when they start their shift. Every WR nurse that I experienced was
cheerful. Scary cheerful. Positive attitude cheerful. 'What can we do to
help?' cheerful. It is the nurses of WR that most definitely help bring
you back to living life. Bless them.
One other thing that I
learned: don't try to laugh while in the ICU as you are recovering from a
collapsed lung. It hurts like hell. ... Was trying to peel a banana and
just as I was about to eat it I must have squeezed too hard. The damn
thing flew off like a rocket across the floor into the hallway. I rang
my bell and the nurse retrieved my banana ... with comment 'Perhaps it
is best to eat something else' ... it was a good laugh but I cried for
almost 20 minutes afterwards.
I will cherish that moment, as we were on the phone at the time! You make everyone confused when we can't tell if you are laughing or crying!
ReplyDeleteAll kidding aside...All your friends are grateful for your stamina and positive attitude. That surely provides as much healing as the excellent nurses!