Blog - Kitchen Table Devotions

Servanthood in the Midst of COVID

by Rita Macdonald

From the beginning of March of this year until early May when COVID-19 reared its ugly head in the pandemic of 2020, I drove back and forth to work in the busy Medical ICU of Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan day after day. Quarantined for a couple of weeks prior to the rest of the state of Michigan, my days off were often spent at home coordinating drop offs for masks, hats, and other PPE that so many friends and folks I hadn't even come to know yet, volunteered to provide. My drives home from work often involved stopping at people's homes to pick up bags of supplies on porches. Frequently I'd come home to warm, home-cooked meals on the porch, brownies, and cookies. Once there was even an entire homemade coffee cake that was absolutely scrumptious. Friends sent pictures of ... View Post

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Ram’s Horn Wisdom

by Rita Macdonald

My friend and I stopped in for a carryout lunch yesterday at the Hills City Grill in Troy, Michigan. Familiar faces greeted us at the door. This is the famous old "Ram's Horn" of Troy, where for decades everyone in the neighborhood met, and all of the customers knew each other. The name of the restaurant may have changed, but the atmosphere never did - thank God! You know those people in your life who, you can go a year without seeing, and when you do see each other it's as if it were just yesterday? That's Lisa, and Debbie, and the others..... These days, I'm a Registered Nurse in a busy ICU. But had it not been for those waitressing years during high school, goofing around with Lisa and Donna when we weren't busy waiting tables, I wouldn't have the skills I do now to carry ... View Post

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I’m A Nurse – NOT A Hero

by Rita Macdonald

When I began nursing school, I remember having to learn how to correctly fold a washcloth in order to give my first patient a bath. My buddy and I spent ten minutes trying to accurately wrap the corner of the wash cloth around our four fingers, and get the middle of it correctly in the palm of our hand...... Frustrated, we finally just gave up and got to work bathing him. I remember thinking to myself how ridiculous it was, and our patient likely thought we looked pretty funny too, trying to figure out how to hold the washcloth. In the end, he was more comforted by our compassion than our correct hold of the washcloth. I'd raised two sons who were now in middle and high school, and had given them both thousands of baths as children. It's not rocket science. I'm a ... View Post

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What You DON’T See in the Hospitals

by Rita Macdonald

Texts to and from co-workers, "Do you wish you were at work, when you get a day off?" are not uncommon during these pandemic days. "Yesssss!" I answer! I am so relieved to know I'm not the only one who feels this way! And one of my friends texted me Sunday and said, "It's okay to not want to talk sometimes." Sunday was one of those days. It just feels as though we are the only ones who "get" each other right now. If you are interesting in keep your backyard in a good shape, you need to have best tools to make your job easier, in https://lawncareguides.com/ you can find the best tools to work in your garden. We've gotten more free meals than I can count. People have sent sweets of every kind, hand-written notes, pictures drawn by their children, photos of their pets, and even ... View Post

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Light at the End of the COVID-19 Tunnel??

by Rita Macdonald

In 1991 when my daughter was born with anencephaly, I agreed to participate in a 10-year March of Dimes study about neural tube defects. At that time, I had not yet become a nurse, but my brother was a physician, my sister a pharmacist, my Mom was working in a busy Detroit hospital Emergency Room, and my dad was continuing to suffer from a blood disorder. My family was always steeped in the medical world in one way or another - so how could I not participate in a study that would benefit someone else or potentially save a life ? (And it did, by the way - help many). I never dreamed I would have that chance again - to participate in another study that would help others. But tomorrow several of my work colleagues and I have appointments to have our blood drawn looking for antibodies ... View Post

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Screw You, COVID!

by Rita Macdonald

Just the other day, I received a message from the brother of a patient I cared for a couple of years ago. He identified himself as my patient's brother, and said that he was thinking of all our ICU team during this pandemic. He wanted us to know he cared about the team that cared for his brother. Immediately, I knew who this was. My patient had suffered a very bad stroke, he was not going to survive off of the ventilator, and the family had agreed to donate whatever organs they could. My patient was young, close to my age. His family loved small air planes. I remember the city they lived in, and they shared some stories with me about the airplane museum. I remembered my patient's brother and sister-in-law, and could still see their faces. They now have contact with the person ... View Post

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COVID-19 … Thoughts from A Respiratory Therapist

by Rita Macdonald

It is NO COINCIDENCE that every single time I get into my car after a shift in the Medical ICU at Royal Oak Beaumont, this song is playing. And it was also NO COINCIDENCE that my dear friend Jean Sanders texted me the words to it this morning. It's so worth sharing, so here you go! Great Are You Lord You give life, You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope, You restore Every heart that is broken Great are You, Lord It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only you give life, You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope, You restore Every heart that is broken Great are You, Lord It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our ... View Post

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COVID-19, What’s True, False, & Even Truer

by Rita Macdonald

I feel angry this morning because I am remembering what it's like to snuggle two toddlers, and how baby soft their cheeks are when you give em a kiss. And yes, mine are exceptionally adorable - probably more adorable than yours. (I'm a grandmother, I'm supposed to believe this!) I'm very angry at this virus - not the Governor, the President, China, not even those imbeciles who are so defiantly out walking around, perhaps unknowingly infecting others. (Okay, that might have sounded a little angry). I'm angry at this evil virus. And it is just that - EVIL, because it has taken PEOPLE away from me - people I LOVE! I'm afraid my anger at this EVIL virus has done away this morning with any creativity left in me, mostly because I miss Lyla & Owen, but also partly because I can't ... View Post

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