Life lessons

I first have to say how glad I am to be done with my medical/surgical nursing class/clinicals. Also, thanks to my awesome husband, family (both sides), and my awesome friends for helping me and putting up with me through this class. It stretched me to my limits and brought out some pretty ugly sides that I didn't know I had. These last few months I have learned not only school principles, but some pretty important life lessons that have changed the way I look at life. You would think that after having cancer I would learn to love every moment of life and never take anything for granted. I guess I needed a reminder. During my pediatrics rotation at the children's hospital I was reminded how special gods children are and how important it is for us to be more child like. before seeing my patient I had read up on all of her history and was heart broken thinking of how it would effect my life if i were in her shoes. This little girl with a long life ahead of her was on the brink of loosing her leg to a nasty infection. As i walked into her room I was instantly smiling from this cute girls contagious grin that stretched from ear to ear. She had just finished rubbing bubble gum flavored lotion all over a male medical student in her room. At the end of the night she gave me a thank you card with a picture and a note saying "thanks for helping me get better, its always nice when you get to keep a leg". wow, how would life be if we were a little less bitter about the things that "almost happen to us" and happier about the blessings we receive like this girl was. These last few months I have also learned of the unconditional love of a mother. Two of my dear friends have had sweet babies who are faced with life long challenges. The length that one will go through to give her child a better chance at a normal life, and the ability of one family to pull together when the future of their child has been suddenly changed is truly inspiring. Aly and jess, you girls are so amazing! These last few months at work I have seen some bone marrow transplant patients pull through the darkest time of their lives without ever complaining except for "this food tastes like cardboard". My husband lost his sweet grandfather last month. The way he and his family gently took care of his grandmother really showed me that family is everything.My brother Pete moved his young family out of state for the first time, and my brother Warren is about to move his young family further away to Ohio. My brothers and their awesome wives are so brave. This week I sat in on a group therapy session for troubled teenage girls for a clinical rotation and I heard a phrase that I will never forget "fighting is not fighting, unless you fight when it is hard". lately I have seen so many people around me "fight when its hard". I have looked at these last few months as an opportunity for growth and for goal setting. If I could be a little more child like, have a little more unconditional love for those around me, be a little more grateful for my health, a little more courageous, and a little more gentle with the ones i love; life could be "a little sweeter".