I have spent a lot of time in hospitals lately. I've gotten to know so many people and the story of their lives. Sometimes I just listened. There was Melanie. Her daughter overdosed on Tylenol, trying to get her boyfriend's attention after a fight. Melanie has been sleeping in a waiting room, on a chair, for over a month. Then there was the family who were waiting for the priest to give their father his last rites. Many people with heart transplants and people with heart attacks. Old young. Male. Female. Religious. Atheist. Every background you can imagine. But for some reason, it is "Cindy's" story which touched me so deeply.
"Cindy" is a young, vivacious and attractive nurse who works in the ICU unit of a NYC hospital. She was born in India, speaks three languages (English perfectly), moved to the West Coast, met a man from Tennessee and moved with him to NYC. All I knew of her, at first, was this. Her personality and loving nature was so upbeat it lifted my spirits. She is in charge of one patient and is giving him extraordinary care. Today I found out that she has had two open heart surgeries and is on the list for a heart transplant. I was shocked, saddened and inspired by her. A bit in awe too. Suddenly she put a lot of my pain and issues in perspective. She reminded me to be humble and positive. She works taking care of so many hearts, while waiting for a new one for herself.
After my car accident last year I had decided to live each day to the fullest, but in the last few months I had forgotten. I have dealt with a lot of physical and emotional duress in the last month or so, but I also have so much to grateful for and I must not lose sight of it. I have my family and friends and I also have the love of a man who is incredibly special.
I hope Cindy lives a long and wonderful life; she has helped so many and touched so many lives, including me, indirectly. Thank you, Cindy. I won't forget again.
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Comments: 33
An amazing story.
It is the hope and positive think you express in this most loving piece that will help enable your body to heal.
I can tell you are doing a lot of natural healing practices, too - such as meditation. Keep on keeping, girl!
I think I mentioned my sister about your age has CHF and had a cardiac arrest last year (the hosp never looked to see that she had CHF and did not give her the Lasix (diuretic) she needed and she arrested. They gave her a pacemaker. She had a gall bladder attack soon after and had it removed. She is doing so so so much better now and is hiking.
***
My ankles are less swollen. Wearing compression socks and more sleep and more exercise. (It is because of my shoulder dislocation 2 months ago; healing blood vessels swell during healing, causing fluid retention.)
Glad you are taking care of yourself!
We humans forget easily (not the heartfelt stories we've heard and were inspired by) but the pain and anguish suffered because I think our spirit wishes to keep itself lifted from the physical. If we went over and over all the deep down details it would keep us from rising to our healthy balance.
My husband Bill is very allergic to the oil based ddyes used in mylegrams (he gets flushed, feverish and breaks into a rash from the dye, so they must administer an antidote before he has the test, he said he felt completely out of control when they used the dye, as if he was on fire. SO I do believe each and every procedure or condition (heart, lung or whatever)
can lead to another during these hospital stays. One could almost say, one isn't meant to go yet, if in fact one gets through all one got through. (You or Bill) He was in surgery for seven hours and not because he had cancer surgery (he didn't the cancer is still there) but because the cancer sprung a leak and bathed his insides with infection. THAT took seven hours to clean out and the doctor told me later that he has a very strong constitution and that they did not think he would come through. But he did, and then through pneumonia and seven days in ICU.
How strong the human body is and even stronger when the will goes along with it and carries it further. THEN if one believes in a God that has HIS WILL that variable is counted also. I guess we just do what we must, learn what we learn and live better for it.
Bless you Michelle, I'm so glad you are here and still sharing your inspiration.
Flowers Comments
You, my dear,,,have a heart as big as you need,,, You are special to your family,,, You are so caring, I can feel it,,, God has Blessed you big time,,,
Thanks for sharing with the Triple Name Club.
Your 'story' touches me as well; and sharing it with us in your unique way transforms us all into better people.
xoxoxox
Hugs,
Mare~