Mom this is a long message, but I need to share it here - Love and miss you so much - God Bless.
I will visit again soon.
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For those Nurses that cared for you at the Nursing Home - May God Bless them all.
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About Nurses:
Somebody once asked a Nurse: "You're a nurse? That's cool; I wanted to do that when I was a kid. How much do you make?"
The nurse replied: "HOW MUCH DO I MAKE?"
"I can make holding your hand seem like the most important thing in the world when you're scared.
I can make your child breathe when they stop...
I can help your father survive a heart attack...
I can wake myself get up at 5 am to make sure your mother has the medicine she needs to live.
I work all day to save the lives of strangers.
I make my family wait for dinner until I know your family member is taken care of.
I make myself skip lunch so that I can make sure that everything I did for
your wife today is charted.
I make myself work weekends and holidays because people don't just get sick Monday through Friday.
Today, I might save your life.
How much do I make? All I know is, I make a difference……..."
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(My Soap Box Mode is Now On)
As the above internet piece came my way, it really opened my eyes to think of the many people that I have met in this Profession. And this is just a small piece of what these Nursing Professionals do every day of their working careers.
You know, Nurses are so very important to our Society, and most times when YOU see one it is on a most personal basis. Nurses are really the Lord's angels in disguise. Be kind to them, you may need one of your own someday.
I Love them all.
I have a Sister-in-Law, in the Louisville, KY. area that is an RN. She has been in nursing for years; Love you Carol Christine Dickie-Williams.
Others in my family that are in Nursing are Nieces, In-Laws, and Out-Laws (Yep, Even those that ride on Harleys – Love you too, Renee. ), and I love each and every one of them.
Since working on my Family Genealogy now for 18+ years, I have met much family that is in the Nursing Profession;
My Cousin, Ona Mae Hall-Scalf of the Corbin, Kentucky area is the closest geographically and holds a large part of my Family Heart; she is an RN that works in CCU; a very skilled Nurse and a real peach of a person. I have talked with and communicated online with Ona Mae now for several years, but it feels like I've known her since we were just young kids - However, I have never met her and her family in person; but I know and can tell that she is REAL and SINCERE, Very Dedicated to her patients and family.
I consider myself so very lucky that I have met and have become great friends with so many Nursing Professionals and others in the Pharmaceutical area, with the Job that I have. I stop at so many nursing homes around Kentucky, and I see the difference that these caring souls and those that support them, the care that they put toward their charges daily - there are so many support personnel behind this profession that it simply amazes me. So trust me, we live in a wonderful society to have these dedicated people around us that we have - God Bless them all.
On a very personal note:
I remember that I became so close to one of the residents of one of the nursing homes that I visit on a daily basis; her name was Gertrude. As I am on my way out the front door to head home, she was just sitting there in her wheel chair; obviously she had just finished her lunch and was sitting in the main lobby, and she would touch my hand and begin talking to me; feeling that she just wanted some company, I would sit with her for about 15 or 20 minutes. She was a smaller version of my own mother, as she was also in a nursing home; the same silver gray hair and all, even the same age (91 yrs) - and just enjoying the days she had left. I found myself getting so close to her that I began to feel somewhat guilty that I was only able to visit with my own mother one day a week, because of where she lived in Kentucky.
Sometimes Gertrude would have family members visit from Indiana and Ohio; One day, two sons and their wives were with them - one played a Dulcimer (A stringed guitar type of musical instrument), and would play many of his mother's favorite Gospel songs - many of them my own mother's favorites. Trying not to interfere with their family visit that day, I went to the exit to leave. Gertrude grabbed my hand as I was making my way out the front door, and she would not let me go until she was allowed to introduce her family to me. This really got to me; I mean GOT TO ME; that's hard to do to an 'Ole Retired Marine (If you know anything about Marines, you would understand this.)
One week, I had noticed that Gertrude had not been in the lobby for several days, so I figured that I was either early or a bit late those days and she had to retire to her room to rest. And then when several of the Nurses on Gertrude's wing, returned from a short vacation, they told me that Gertrude had passed several days earlier. I just about lost it, and could not get out the front door quick enough. As I was loading my van to leave I felt so much anger that this blessed soul had been lost, I found myself almost throwing the empty Medicine totes into the back of the van. What a shame more people could not have met and known Ms. Gertrude; but she will always have a piece of my heart. I had to pull to the shoulder of the road several times this day, and I cried like a baby on the entire trip back home thinking of Gertrude and how much sorrow her family must be feeling.
I immediately increased the frequency of my visits where my own Mother was; instead of one day I started going twice a week, and then three and sometimes 4 days a week. On the 3rd of June 2014, I had a VA Doctor's appointment near Mom's location, so after this I went to visit with Mom and sat with her the rest of the day, or at least what was left of it up till they were starting her evening meal.
I leaned over her to tell her that I had to get home, and reminded her that it was about 2 hours home and it was already dark. She raised her head and said "OK Son, I love you so much." I hugged and kissed her Good Night and had to leave quickly, as I always do.
The next morning I awoke and received word that she had passed about 4:45am on the 4th of June 2014. I was at a total loss without her, and was a total wreck. I like to have never made it through the funeral - God I do miss her so. I feel as lost today as I did the day Mom passed. I felt the same loss when my Father passed back in 1989, and still miss him terribly. This type of loss does not go away as so many people have told me, but I appreciate their concern.
Here are a few words from a very close and dear friend after Mom’s passing:
"I know it hurts, but you are strong and you get to keep all those good memories; the ones that no one else took the time to talk about or listen to.
She is in your heart. She will whisper in your ear. She will brush your cheek; and she would tell you not to be too sad.
It is difficult let them go but they are just on another plane.
You will always be her son, and she will always love you."
Just a little message to ALL of you; "Always count your blessings; AND give thanks for them, always welcome new friendships into your life - I know, some work and some do not, but at least you tried and you are a better person by doing so. Help the needy; do you need to feel exhilarated, give all you can to help someone that needs help - this will do it, guaranteed.
I would like to dedicate this piece that I share with you, to those that are in the Nursing Field, and for all the sacrifices mentioned, ALL of those Professionals in the Medical Field, on ANY level; but it really is close to my heart when I know that I have some of these very important people in my Family and my Life, and this also includes those that I work with through the week.
God Bless you all, hold each other close and remember I love you all.
(My Soap Box Mode is now Off)
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"Children are born,
Traditions are passed,
Life and Love Continues on,...."
~ Unknown
“To my Children and Grand Children; Through you, I will be assured a place above ground; Always.”
~ Paul D. Williams, USMC (Ret)
"You cannot save People, But you can Love them;
and that just might be enough."
~ A Friend
"A Marine fights not because he hates what is in front of him,
~ but because he loves what is behind him"
"Be Relevant, Respectful, Honest, Discreet and Responsible"
"Among all the Honors, among all the Postings, Promotions
and Medals that have been awarded me, the one in which
I take most Pride is to be able to say, I am a Marine."
-- General John A. LeJeune, USMC
“We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for
the civil, political and religious liberties..
-- Kentucky 1891, Preamble
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