A Tribute to Nurses

Nurses. We’ve been hearing a lot about them these days. Their sacrifices, bravery. In my opinion, they just don’t get the accolades let alone the money they deserve. Honestly, before May 17, 2016 I hardly ever thought about them. In my defense, I’d never needed many doctors/nurses before that day. But on May 17th, 2016 that all changed. 

Throughout the last (almost) 4 years I’ve seen an endless number of doctors. More doctors than I’d seen in the first 47 years of my life. And while some of those doctors were wonderful, what I remember the most about my appointments (aside from the anxiety I had before and after every single one of them) were the nurses. They were the ones who were truly taking care of me. Here are just a few things I remember.

I remember:

• the nurses who spoke kindly to assure me the doctor would find out what was wrong.
• the nurses who repeatedly wiped tears from my eyes because of my pain or because of the anxiety I was feeling.
• the nurses who held my hand reassuring and comforting me before a procedure or at an appointment.
• the nurses who cried alongside me before surgery.
• the nurses who went to extreme measures to remind doctors of my allergies.
• the nurse who reread my charts and notified the doctor he had written down the wrong body part to operate on.
• the nurse who brought in an entire medical team to sternly remind them not to use certain topical anesthetics.
• the nurse who put sticky notes all over my body to remind the health professionals of my allergies before a surgery.
• the nurses who explained in layman’s terms what the doctor really meant.
• the nurses who were there for me when I woke up after surgery – again holding my hand and speaking kindly to me.
• the nurse who prayed for me.
• the nurse who stayed late just so she could be there when I woke up.
• the nurses who believed me when I felt like doctors didn’t.
• the nurses who risked their lives coming to work in a hospital when the yearly flu was rapidly spreading.
• the nurses who called to check up on me after surgeries or appointments.
• the nurses who would encourage me not to give up.
• the nurses who sat and listened while I told my whole story so they could see the big picture.
• the nurses who didn’t leave my side while tears were streaming down my face.
• the nurses who researched CRPS to help their doctors have a better understanding of how to treat it.
• the nurses who looked directly into my eyes and said, “I am here for you.”

Throughout these last 4 years, these are the people I remember. These are the men and women who know their patients far better than the treating doctor. The men and women who went into a field that is not only high stress, but fast paced, risky. Thank God for nurses everywhere. Thank God for the students who are continuing their nursing degrees so they can be on the front line or helping people like me – just a girl trying to beat CRPS.

Finally, thank you to all the nurses out there who fight for their patients everyday and who are on the front lines of this awful pandemic. I see you!! I applaud you!! I pray for you!!