In order for one to succeed and more importantly, survive in the medical field, there has to be something inherent in that person. And I mean it's that something that keeps you going. The motivation for money can only take you so far and one needs something else to truly make it in the medical field and to be happy in what you do. Being happy in what you do is the greatest reward that you can give yourself and those around you as you live your life. The material things will always be there, but the lessons you learn from people, and what you give back is what defines you as a person. I believe that some of the greatest people, who can truly be called altruistic, exist in the medical field. Granted there are exceptions to the rule, but those people are assholes.
Therefore, the purpose of this blog is to compile and to compose stories that we see in the hospitals we work in. They can be sad, happy, a combination of both, inspiring, perceptive, etc. What I will not allow, however, is anyone bitching about things at work. You can do that on your own time to someone who cares about petty things. Work is tough, life is tough, deal with it. I've seen a lot of things, good and bad, and I think that writing them down can in some way help people. My purpose in starting this is to give others hope, and to maybe even inspire people to be better, and to live a life worth living. My grandmother believed in that, hence it's something I'll forever carry with me. She is my inspiration and my motivation for all that I do.
I will take submissions and write them in as I deem fit. I'm sure many of you nurses/doctors/pas/pts/nas/etc have your own stories and lessons you'd like to share to help others deal. The stresses we face are tough enough, maybe it'll help to have others listen/read what you have to say. I know it'll do that for me, kinda like a Chicken Soup for the Soul, Interweb style. (obviously I can't add pictures since it's a violation of HIPAA, names will also be changed to protect their privacy)
To start things off:
I'm going to tell you the story of Aloysius, or as he's more affectionately known in the Peds ICU, Big Al. Big Al is 2 years old, born March 27, 2008, and has been a repeat guest at the hospital, all before he could learn to speak cognitively. At the age of 1, Al was diagnosed with a tumor in his Pituitary gland. (For those who don't know, the pituitary gland is involved in many of the hormonal processes of the human body and regulates many things including homeostasis, puberty, menstruation, etc.) When he was 1, the tumor (which is benign by the way) was removed. About a year later, the tumor grew back (still benign) but this time bigger than ever. As a result, the doctors had to go in again and remove the mass that was forming in his head.
What makes Al's story even more heartbreaking is the fact that his parents have chosen to be absent from his young life. I met him during his second stint at the hospital and it hurt to see him like that. All alone in the hospital, he resorted to calling the nurses and doctors taking care of him, mom and dad. Apparently, he's also spent time in the care of the state since his parents are no good assholes (opinion, and I may be wrong about my take on them but I was able to get a good idea about them from the nurses). Al also doesn't have any toys to play with. He has a hospital issued flashlight that he thinks is the greatest thing in the world. During his CT scan, the only thing that kept him still and calm was the fact that I showed him the flashlight could be turned on and off. If you don't smile when you see him smile at the flashlight, then you've got issues.
Now the good news. Upon admission to the hospital, Al was emaciated, skin and bones. I don't know too many details about how the tumor caused this but he wasn't putting on any weight prior to its removal. When I met him, he had the typical baby chub that should be the norm for any healthy kid. I was glad to see him smiling and looking healthy. Also, preliminary scans show that the tumor is no longer there but only time will tell if it rears its ugly head once again. Most importantly, I have to mention the care that the nurses in Peds ICU have given Big Al. I think they've gone above and beyond their duties, all to make Al comfortable as possible. I admire what they do on a daily basis and it's people like them that make the world a better place, but get little recognition for it. I hope that one day, when I get to where I want to be, I can touch lives the way they do.
