A Great Woman...

Tonight, I had the privilege of visiting with the Dimond family. Judy was one of my favorite patients at the clinic. I remember the first time I met her, I was bugged because she had come in for new treatment, late in the afternoon, and she had a long treatment. Her IV's kept hurting and we had to move it a few times to get a good one. I had to stay a few hours late and I was bugged, to say the least. But what a misjudgement...Judy became one that I couldn't wait to see! She was so full of goodness, light, humor, strength, and had a will and determination to live, to beat the odds. And boy did she....she surpassed the odds by far!

I loved getting to know Judy and her family, and she became one that I took "special care" of. I tried to make things easy for her and frequently went the extra mile; perhaps because she reminds me so much of my own mom. As I learned more about her trips, her children and grandchildren-constantly seeing pictures and videos, blogs and texts, I felt like we were family pretty quick! We got all the details when her youngest daughter was getting married, and saw all of her young woman projects and specials projects for her children and grandchildren. She was determined to do everything she could, and not leave anything undone.

What a wonderful, amazing woman, mother, friend, grandmother, sister, young woman's president, and wife! I am so grateful that I didn't let a day of frustrations jinx a future relationship.

My heart goes out to the Dimond family. It was so good to spend a few minutes in their home tonight, and feel of their peace with this new reality. They are wonderful people.

*Go here to read more about this great woman! Cancer sure sucks!

**Well, I realized that my last couple of posts are a bit on the depressing side, and this one is similar, so sorry. :) More to come on the good things in my life! I am so blessed!

The End of an Era

Well, another season of change has come and the end of an amazing and life changing era has come. I have decided it is time to leave the cancer clinic and go back to the ER full time. Wednesday was my last day at CUC and I miss it already, but know that the time has come. I have learned so much about myself and my abilities as a nurse and a person.

I Have Learned...

To love unconditionally

When life gets tough, a positive attitude can make a situation totally change

A smile can go a long way

Working 5+ days a week is hard! Especially waking up early every day!

The grass isn't always greener on the other side

So much about chemotherapy, radiation, surgical options, nutrition

People are simply amazing

God's hand is evident in everything

It is so wonderful to know how much you are loved and aprreciated, that the little things you say or do may make a difference that can't be calculated or measured

How to organize and carry out big events (Relay for Life), importance of delegating

How easy it is to care

The need to LOVE people

I will miss...

The sweet patients

One patient's attempts every other wednesday to kiss me smack on the lips (again!)

The great people I have been priveleged to work with

Free lunches

Mileage reimbursement :)

The hugs

The many "thank you's"

Words of encouragement

Inquiries of my life, the good and the bad, my trips, dating, family, and all the going on's in my life

Friendly dating advice and many blind dates, threats to "go kick those boys in the shins...don't they know what they are missing out on??" :)

Learning about chemo, cancer and all the fascinating break throughs' that are occurring every day!

Being "an answer to my prayer's....I pray every day that you will take care of me today." :)

Tender stories

The friendships that I have made

Learning to love and appreciate people from all walks of life and the ability they have to touch my life