I'm still not sure what the heck my friend and I were stuck behind headed north on Hayes Road today on our way home from church. Bumper to bumper we sat for 20 minutes, when we spotted an "Estate Sale!" sign, and decided that checking it out was a good idea. Maybe the traffic might even clear up by the time we hit the road again, we figured. Cars were lined up on both sides of the road, bumper to bumper just like what we thought we'd just escaped, and to our surprise, the estate sale was at the home of a patient we'd both cared for. "Should we go in?" we wondered between the two of us, and finally decided we'd go in to say hello to the family we'd come to love. But the family wasn't there. A young gentleman who worked for an estate sale company sat at a table with a small cash ... View Post
Dementia Ponderings
It's Sunday night, and mentally I'm preparing for work tomorrow. At 9 a.m., I'll see my first patient, and hopefully by the time 5 p.m. arrives I will have seen five or six of my patients. Most of them have dementia. Most of them don't remember me from week to week. Most of them don't remember where they are, or who the president is. They can't remember what they ate for lunch five minutes ago, or even how to brush their own teeth. They don't have a clue what is going on in the world, all of the division, the hatred, the violence, or the ugly political climate. Thank God. Sometimes, I think that is nothing short of God's mercy. But other times, when a moment of clarity miraculously (and I mean - miraculously), comes along... and someone is able to express that they hurt ... View Post
It Probably Doesn’t Matter
It baffles me sometimes what people lose sleep over. It baffles me even more what people will pull over on the side of the road to post about on social media. (Actually, it baffles me even more, what I've lost sleep over). An old friend of mine used to suggest that if something won't matter in five years, then it isn't worth worrying about today, (and it certainly isn't worth pulling over on the side of the road to make a FaceBook post about either). I've gotten pretty good over the past few years at not letting stuff that won't matter in five years keep me awake at night, but I'd be lying if I said I never fail miserably at that. Last night was one of those failure nights :/ But, leave it to an afternoon patient to remind me of what does and doesn't matter. After sharing a ... View Post
See You Soon, you Big Baboon! (One School Teacher’s Story of a Global Pandemic’s Silver Lining)
One School Teacher’s Story of a Global Pandemic's Silver Lining, by "teachlovemom" (Kristi McAllister) Have you ever believed in something or someone so passionately that when you talk about it you are so full of emotion and excitement, that you feel like your head could literally explode? Have you ever believed something so deeply that you craved more knowledge and became almost obsessed with the topic or subject matter? I’m not talking about an addiction to Pinterest searching for fall DIY projects or stalking your ex on social media. I’m talking about a gut feeling where you know you are so right about something that it eats at you and keeps you up at night because so few people are picking up what you’re laying down. No? Well let me tell you, it doesn’t make friends. I’ve ... View Post
Don’t Forget Where Ya Came From
It wasn't the first time I'd told Lyla & Owen that their Dad was my little boy. But one day, it finally "clicked" for Lyla. We were on the phone FaceTiming, and I was reading her a story I'd made a picture book out of about her Mom & Dad. It included photos from when they were in high school together, then their engagement, their wedding, and finally when Lyla was born. Then I showed her pictures of her Dad when he was little and I was young. All of a sudden, her eyes opened really big, she gasped, dropped the phone, and all I could hear was her running to the kitchen yelling, "Dad!!!! Gummy is your MOM!!!!!" Well, we all nearly died laughing, but really there's probably a lesson in it all. Never forget where you came from. Never forget how nervous you were ... View Post
Mirror Mirror
Several years ago I walked into a local hair salon suggested on social media, inquired if they took walk-ins, and asked for someone to cut off all of the hair I'd been talked into growing out. I couldn't take it anymore. Having overheard me, a lovely hair dresser full of spice and feist stepped up and began rubbing her hands together, laughing and saying, "Let me at it!" About an hour later, I left with the cutest short haircut I'd ever had. Once every five to six weeks, I still leave with a cute haircut, feeling pretty and pampered, and always looking forward to my next appointment! Lisa knows the names of my children and my grandchildren, their silly antics, and several fun stories. Each month she humors me while I show her pictures and we laugh as I replay videos of ... View Post
Hospice Goodbyes
Although I would probably describe myself as someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy change, last year I decided to take a leap of faith, follow my heart's longing, and become a home hospice nurse. I knew it would be a challenging year of an incredible amount of learning, and I thought that the most difficult aspect would be learning a new charting system. HA! Having worked most of my nursing career in the ICU, I have obviously said hundreds of goodbyes, so I did not anticipate having to learn how to do that. Tree trimming & tree removal helps remove dead or broken limbs and helps keep your tree healthy. But I was wrong. The charting came easy; it's the goodbyes that are still difficult. My supervisor said it best when she described being a hospice nurse as a "world of ... View Post
Dear Dementia Patient, Thank You…
You are more than your dementia diagnosis. Every week I look forward to seeing you. Every week I look around your room, and I look for things that might make you get tangled and trip, or fall, or get injured. I make sure your bed is down low, your fall mat is right next to the bed, and your mattress is on the bed in such a way that if you do happen to fall, your head won't hit the metal frame on the way down. Your bed alarm is on. Your door is open. Your favorite television program is on, or the familiar Greek music is playing. Everything you need, including your Kleenex box and trash can are nearby and within reach. Your lunch is cut up in small bites and there is a towel on your lap. Your adorable great grandson's picture with his bright red hair is turned just the right way on ... View Post