Boys, it’s time to sit down on our virtual couch and have a little chat. I know that you are only six, four and almost two, but we need to talk about your future careers.

We think you should all start out and do the two year LPN program so that you can learn everything we have been trying to learn in the last two weeks.

Two weeks ago your Nana went into the hospital. We knew she had cancer, but we were waiting to hear from the Cancer Clinic since July 20th. Nana is really tough, but she kept getting sicker and sicker.

On Monday, August 5th, Nana went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital because she was dehydrated and it a lot of pain. We found out later that Nana’s tumour was growing.

Lucky for us Dr. Daniels was the Gynaecologist-on-call and she took on mom’s case.

Nana has had Dr. Daniels looking out for her, but it has been the nurses who have worked day and night to help Nana be comfortable.

We have learned the names and kept track of pain killers, anti-nausea drugs, blood thinners, stool softens, cholesterol medication and more powders that I can name. Thank God for pen and paper and the nurse friends we have had on speed dial as well as nurse friends we have run into in the hospital. Here’s amazing Auntie Michelle showing us how to take notes.

We have had many nurses who have touched our hearts, Leslie the first night mom came into the ER, Jackie on 2East as well as all the nurses on the women and children’s ward.

Nurse Jackie with mom and I

We have probably had over twenty nurses. They know an incredible amount of information about the human body as well as negotiating hospital culture. They have been Nana’s sole provider of giving comfort to us all through medicine, expert knowledge and comforting words.

Today, Nana had a very sleepy day. She didn’t get out for a walk, but she enjoyed some rests and it looks like her bowel obstruction had been healed. Yeah for poo! We put on leg stockings to help the fluid in her legs and she enjoyed some lemon Popsicles made by Rea.

While Nana was in one of her deep sleeps, a nurse crept in to give mom some anti-nausea medication. After she had mom hooked up, she took the time to read this poster you boys made with your cousins.

The nurse stood with a big smile on her face then whispered “sweet” to me as she walked out the door.

Me, I broke into tears because she took the time to get to “know” about Nana, even when she was only the nurse delivering the medicine.

So boys, the moral of this story is that we aren’t going to insist that you become a nurse, but that you take the time to get to know people God has placed around you at work and at home. If you ever end up in a hospital rely on the nurses because they really are making things happen around here.

Let’s keep praying for Nana’s healing, but we can stop praying for poo.