memorable medical center moments

This post is in pink in honor of the patient I am about to write about. I was blessed to be with her on both Thursday and Friday this week. In gathering info. about her in report on Thursday, I learned that she's quite young and has an identical twin who donated for her stem cell transplant. In meeting her, she was tired but quite sweet. Later in the day, her friend ("other mom") came for a visit and brought home videos from when she was 16. They let me sit and watch for awhile as we laughed at silly, 16-yr-old behavior at various holiday parties and birthdays. I commented on her beautifully long and blond hair, knowing that chemo had taken that from her but that she will get it back. I asked about the different friends in the videos, who she said were now at Whitworth and Biola. Knowing that those are Christian colleges, as well as hearing Newsboys and veggie tales songs in the home videos, I began to wonder if she is a believer.

I came in later to take her vitals and she saw my badge, which has a "SPU Nursing" pin on it. She asked me, "did you go to SPU?" I told her that I graduated from there in June and she responded, "I was supposed to transfer there this fall from UW, but then I was diagnosed this past summer. But, my registration lasts 2 years so I'm still planning on going there. I want to be a RN or a dance teacher." (She's been big time ballet dancer since 3rd grade.) I asked her what made her want to transfer from UW. She said, "Well, the values of most of the professors and students I interacted with were really different from mine, and I really want to go to a Christian church." I asked, "Are you a Christian?" She said yes and asked me if I was. Her phone rang and I said "I'll let you get your phone, but I want to continue this conversation later." She said, "Ok, deal!" :)

When I went in later, her "other mom" had left and we ended up talking for over an hour (I had done everything to catch up with my other pt.s so we could talk awhile). Right away, we connected about Christ. "I am just in constant awe of God," she said, commenting on the many blessings in her life since being diagnosed with Leukemia. She talked about how her transplant from her twin didn't go as well they had hoped (she relapsed), so they are looking for another donor to do a second transplant. The cost of one transplant (just the cells) is $250,000.00. That is the maximum amount her insurance will cover. She said the costs, when all is said and done, will be well over 1 million dollars. She's been amazed at how many people have given money and sponsored fundraisers for her (such as her dance academy, church, and her old high school). She said although it's been really hard, she can't help but count the blessings and the many ways others have helped her and her family. Wow. We went on to talk about SPU and her dreams of becoming a nurse or teacher. She asked me why i wanted to be a nurse. We talked about her twin sister & the rest of her family. She told me that more than anything, she's praying that her dad will come to know Christ through all of this. She told me her testimony, how she came to find God. I asked her how I could be praying for her and she shared with me her online carepage address, which has consistent pray request updates. I asked her if we could pray right then and she said she'd love it. We prayed.

When I left her room, I went to see if she had a "primary" nurse. She does, but at that point, did not have an associate or "secondary" nurse. I signed up right away to be with her (meaning, I will automatically have her whenever I work if her primary nurse is not there). When I went to say goodbye to her for the day, she told me to "request me" for tomorrow. I said that's a definite. I am thankful to God for this new friend of mine. What amazing relationships and interactions I've been able to have at this job called nursing!