Memories Of Mom

Today is the day we celebrate our mothers. The day we shower them with affection over and above the other 364 days of the year.

Flowers. Brunch. Cards. These are the traditional gifts for Mother’s Day.

I still remember one of the first gifts I gave my mom for Mother’s Day. I was about seven or eight years old.

Nothing reminds me of her more than this album. I was so excited to give it to her, and I still remember how much she liked it.

Music was a large part of growing up with mom. For a few years, we only had each other. And we had music. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Wet Willie, Elton John, The Who, and riding to school in the Honda Civic with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band playing on the radio:

“Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night…..”

I still remember laying down on the floor with albums strewn about, deciding which one I would listen to that day. If there’s one thing my mama taught me, it’s how to properly handle vinyl. Remove album gingerly from its sleeve, only touching the edges. Blow off any dust gently, and place it on the turntable. Once in place, use only the switch to place the needle on the vinyl. (Don’t try to manually place the needle, as you may scratch it).

Put on the huge, oversized white Koss headphones. Return to my place with my chin in my palms, as I stare down at the liner notes and listen to the lyrical story unfold.

I can still vividly recall listening to these albums over and over and over again. I was transfixed by the words, the music, the songs, the message, and what I thought it all meant. I would be transported to another place when listening to entire albums. Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and The Who’s “Tommy” were among my favorites. Epic musical adventures. Trips to a beautiful place in my mind where wonderful stories unfolded before me. Much like reading a book, listening to these songs always painted a certain landscape.

Nothing will replace these memories. Nothing. These beautiful reminders of a childhood spent with the one person who would continue to inspire me throughout this life.

I love you, mom. You continue to give me more gifts than you receive. You are my strength. You are my hero. You are my inspiration.

Happy Nurses Week

Another Nurses Week comes and goes.

I’m constantly reminded why I chose this ‘noble profession’, but no other week spotlights our career quite like Nurses Week. It’s the week we share with teachers, and countless other niche occupations and celebrations.

I like to think that most of us chose nursing because we wanted to have a career helping others in some form or fashion. Nurses are a rare breed. We deal with more bodily fluids than a porn star or porta-potty. We get excited about things that gross out most people. We go in when you go out. I like to also think that we do it because we WANT to, not because we HAVE to. I don’t like to think that people get into nursing for the money. I’m not naive to think those people don’t exist, but I do hope that eventually, over a period of time, the profession will naturally weed out those people. I DO believe in nurse karma.

Nothing is more humbling and life-affirming than when you comfort others who are at their most vulnerable. I never lose sight of the fact that only mere inches separate myself from the patient in the bed. The distance is the difference between comforting and educating someone and being comforted and educated.

We nurses work long hours. We are at times stretched thin beyond our comfort zone, but we always remember one thing: we are here for the patient. Even at our busiest with doctors calling, families asking countless questions, call lights ringing incessantly, complex dressing changes, ‘code brown’ cleanups, we do it all.

We. Do. It. All.

We advocate. We teach. We cry. We laugh. We share. We protect. We make clinical judgments. We collaborate. And listen. (Sorry, couldn’t help that last one. Cue the Vanilla Ice).

We bring life into this world, and we do our best to ensure a peaceful departure.

I am celebrating this Nurses Week as a new manager. I now get to view the profession not only from the bedside, but as a leader. I’m proud of each and every one of our nurses. I am fortunate to have worked with some of the absolute best; the cream-of-the-crop. I consider it an honor to work beside them and with them.

There is considerable debate year after year about the perfect gift for a nurse to commemorate this holiday. Do we give keychains? Picture frames? Watches? Lanyards? Coffee mugs? Flowers? Cake?

After considerable thought, I’ve decided what is the best gift of all for your favorite nurse.

A simple thank you.

Write it. Say it. However you express it, do it. I guarantee your nurse will appreciate a sincere thank you far more than a personalized pen or flowers.

On that note: thank you. Thank you to all the nurses I have had the pleasure to train with, learn from, and work side-by-side with. You have ALL helped shape me into the nurse I am today. The nurse who taught me the 12-lead acronym when performing a bedside EKG (ketchup, mustard, relish, BOP), the nurse who showed me tricks to starting the perfect IV, the nurse who showed me shortcuts and tips with charting, the nurse instructor who inspired me the most, and the nurse who showed me the way to juggle a medication cart for 30 patients.

You are all my personal heroes, and I will never, ever forget you.

Thank you.

Happy Nurses Week.

Long Time, No Blog

I can’t make any promises regarding the quality of this post, but I’ve been away for so long, I felt I owed at least an attempt at writing.

So much going on with life. Where to start.

The year began with my new job continuing to show me the best and the worst of nursing and management. I love my new job. I didn’t love my lack of orientation. I finally got vocal about it, and as a result, have been invited to help onboard future assistant managers. I honestly don’t want anyone to have as difficult a time as I did. This position is simply much too important to let it be neglected.

My wonderfully handsome and talented other half has been busy finishing up his MSF RiderCoach training, and after next weekend, he will be certified to teach people how to ride motorcycles. Wow. I think I’ll let him practice on me, since I haven’t ridden in almost an entire year. Yeah. It’s really been that long.

I’ve just been living the proverbial dream. Great job, great home, great son, great cat, great man, and great life. It truly couldn’t get any better than it is right now. I have to stop several times a day and remind myself just how lucky I am.

Looking forward to seeing my mom next month as I travel to Florida to attend my cousin’s wedding. It’s been much too long since I have spent some good, quality time with my mama. I miss her. I miss her cynical sense of humor and constant inability to say the word ‘specific’ and ‘recognizance’. It still makes me laugh.

My son will be visiting again in August, and this year will mark the shortest trip yet for him. He chose to only visit for a week. Now, while I could sit and bemoan this fact, I have come to the realization that he’s a teenager, and most 14-year old boys don’t really wanna hang out with their mom for long stretches of time. Plus, he started his first job as a golf caddy, and he will have a busy summer. I can respect that. We will make the week he is here as quality as possible. He’ll love it. Plans for his visit include a nighttime trip to Alcatraz and the Rocket Boat. Per the teen’s request.

Otherwise, life goes on.

I’m feeling very serene, introspective, and genuinely happy. I can’t recall the last time I have felt such a good sense of calm and healthy perspective.

It’s a nice place to be.

Stay Well, Travel Well

Another reader asked for some blog space, and I’m always happy to share my little corner of the blogosphere with others. Here are some great tips for travelers and exercise.

Take it away, Mike!…..

Stay Well, Travel Well- Fitness Tips for Travelers

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, spending time away from home can
be stressful. Often, the interruption of daily routine that results from travel schedules
can cause people to fall away from habits of healthy eating and regular exercise
regimes. By paying a little attention to details, you can maintain your healthy habits
while traveling and at the same time minimize travel-induced stress.

Planning a Healthy Trip

Before you leave on any trip, do some research to make sure you can take
advantage of the healthy options available to visitors at your destination. On a recent
trip to San Francisco, I did my due diligence by scouring a travel review site in order
to find the best hotel for me in the area. I was given a list of all the best hotels in San
Francisco and from there was able to click on any of them and see the rating, price,
amenities offered, and reviews from people who have stayed there. If you plan on
staying for several days, learn about hiking, biking or running trails in the community
where you will be visiting.

Healthy Commuting

For many travelers, the stress of a journey sets in even before they arrive at their
destination. Combat the physical stress of travel by remaining well-hydrated and
taking breaks to stretch and walk. Drink plenty of water before and during your trip.
Whether flying or driving, be sure to take breaks to stretch. You can even do a little
in-flight exercising to help minimize swollen or stiff joints.

Arrival

When you arrive at your destination, take some time to get oriented and grounded
before heading to meetings or on a sightseeing adventure. Locate the fitness
amenities in the hotel. Take the time to organize your room and unpack your
belongings. Then spend a few minutes walking through some basic yoga positions
or stretching. You will feel more grounded and become better acclimated to your
new environment, which will greatly reduce the stress of your trip.

Your Stay

Throughout your stay, take steps to maintain your personal fitness and well being.
Incorporate exercise into each day, whether you do in-room yoga, enjoy some time
in the fitness center of your hotel or take a morning run. At mealtimes, make healthy
choices. Avoid all-you-can-eat restaurants. If your hotel provides a complimentary
breakfast, enjoy healthy options such as oatmeal, fruit and whole-grain toast rather
than high-calorie pastries and other less nutritious options. To avoid late-night
snacking on pizza or whatever is available onsite, make a trip to a local health
market for fruit, nuts and other nutritious goodies.

 

Warrior Weapons

In keeping with the last post regarding a friend and her cancer, a reader expressed an interest in sharing some health and fitness tips for those who are fighting the battle. I am happy to share her article, and links to find more information.

Thanks to Melanie Bowen for the info. Keep up the good fight, warriors.

Starting an Exercise Routine After Cancer

Running, walking, yoga, and even martial arts has been shown to help cancer patients and even reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Evidence now shows that those who exercise daily can reduce fatigue related to treatment. There are a variety of other benefits, ranging from increased mobility to stress relief. With any kind of exercise during rigorous medical treatment like chemotherapy and radiation, it’s important to consult a doctor before committing to any plan. By speaking with an oncologist, you can find out what activities will better suit your health situation.

Benefits of Exercise for Cancer Patients

Researchers have shown that exercise, specifically cycling, running, and low impact exercises are some of the best ways to reduce fatigue and start building endurance, muscle strength and mobility. In some cases, cancer patients can benefit even more from daily exercise, such as mesothelioma patients after chemotherapy. Studies have also shown that physical activity can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and other chronic illnesses. Exercise also improves energy and mental health, which may benefit those who are going through depression after cancer.

What Kind of Exercises to Choose

Most patients first start with shorter and less strenuous exercise for 20 to 30 minutes a day. Even a short walk in the morning or night can contribute to better mobility and physical health. However, if you really want to start doing something for your body, low impact exercises are an easier way to start moving your body, build muscle and improve joint health. Low impact exercises include walking, yoga, strength training, cycling, elliptical machines, swimming, a Stairmaster, rowing machines and even kayaking. For those who want to get more exercise or need rigorous activities, start with running for short periods of time, then upgrade to kickboxing, regular jogs, cardio training and even high-energy dance like Zumba.

Risks for Those Starting to Exercise

Running and rigorous exercise isn’t the key to improving health in every cancer patient. Along with fatigue come other disadvantages after undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to treat cancer. It can mean that your immune system can’t fight off infections and bacteria as well, making it difficult to stress the body with rigorous exercise or even go to public swimming pools and gyms. In other cases, your bones, muscles and joints may not be ready for high impact exercise. That’s why it’s important to start slow with lower impact exercises and build upon your body’s strengths as you go. In many cases, you should be able to warm up and go for a light jog before doing any sort of strenuous activity. 

What Else Can You Do

In addition to exercise, remember that nutrition, vitamins, the right diet and medication can also help with the side effects of cancer treatment. For one thing, ginseng has been proven to help with fatigue and allow for more rigorous activity. Acupuncture has also been recommended to help relieve fatigue in cancer patients, as well as lowering depression and anxiety. It is important to start taking the steps to become a healthier you, and it all starts with speaking to your doctor.

Exercise and Cancer

Mesothelioma 

Survivorship During And After Cancer

Warrior

A friend of mine that I used to work with back in Michigan now finds herself battling breast cancer. As I perused the posts on Facebook, one particular post made me stop.

And smile.

And shed a tear or two.

My friend had chronicled her journey in photographs from hair loss to shaving it all off. She was putting herself out there for all her friends and family to see her transformation. I was immediately moved to tears by her bravery, her attitude, but most of all, her determination. Knowing her, I can’t imagine her doing this any other way.

I decided to chat her up and told her that her photos were absolutely beautiful. Her next statement will quite possibly stick with me forever:

“When your hair starts to fall out, it’s either victim or warrior. I chose warrior.”

Yes, you did.

New Year, New Job

I’ve finally made the leap.

I’ve finally jumped the gap.

At the beginning of this new year, I accepted a position as an Assistant Nurse Manager. Some may say I have gone to the dark side. I like to think I’ve just broadened my horizons.

Prior to my career in nursing, I worked in Human Resources, countless administrative positions with a bit of managerial experience, so it wasn’t a far cry when the position was presented to me.

I took it.

I’ll admit, I had to take a few moments to appreciate and remember that while I will never completely leave the bedside, I will not be there 100% of the time anymore. My time will be spent elsewhere, performing different tasks and having different responsibilities. But, rather than mourn my absence, I realized a few very important things: Leaving the bedside to enter management doesn’t mean I’ll automatically ‘lose touch’ with where I came from, but rather will allow me to bring that fervent passion for nursing TO management, where I think it is sorely needed at times. I will fight hard for my nurses, because I AM A NURSE, first and foremost, whether at the bedside or collaborating with management. I know the difficulties firsthand, and I know the challenges.

And, yeah, if they ever need me to drop in a difficult IV, I’M THERE.

I’m excited. I’m energized. I’m optimistic. I’m realistic. I’m ready.

Yesterday, at work, one of the nurses asked me: “Why did you do it? Why did you take the job?”

I thought about it for a second, and replied, “I like a challenge.”

What I really meant was that I couldn’t think of a better place to be to facilitate real, good, and positive change. Our unit is in the midst of some uncomfortable tightening, and I want to be a part of making the transition as comfortable, realistic, and safe as possible. I worked side-by-side with these nurses, and we shared the struggle when things felt tight, when staff morale was low, when we felt like our shift might never end, and we needed to rely on each other to make it through the end of our eight hours. I want them to know that I appreciate BOTH sides of the coin.

But, before you accuse me of being a Pollyanna, let me assure you that I am prepared for some hard work ahead, making difficult decisions, being put smack dab in the middle of two forces pulling hard on either end. I never said it would be EASY. I said I was up for a challenge.

Eyes wide open.

Let’s jump.

I Love Winter

‘nuf said.

Day Eight

and I’m still lovin’ it.

Bikram yoga.

I have attended eight days in a row, seven of those days Bikram, and one day of Power yoga. I feel strong. I feel focused. I feel determined. I feel more inclined to eat an orange after class rather than trash it with junk food.

Today marked a few ‘firsts’. I was able to hold some poses for the entire length of time, and other poses a few seconds longer. I can actually feel my body stretching further each and every day. I am absolutely amazed. We humans don’t tend to take the time to fully stretch, so when you do it on a daily basis for 90 minutes, gains will be made.

But, perhaps the biggest gain today was the attempt and success at one of the most difficult Bikram yoga poses for me: the Toe Stand. It starts out with the Tree Pose, and morphs into this pretzel-like seated squat. In transition to the toe stand, I always feel like I’m going to fall flat on my face, but today?

I didn’t.

With my left leg planted, my right leg on my left thigh, I assumed the Tree Pose. I held it for a few seconds, and when the time seemed right, I leaned forward. Before I knew what happened, I actually found my ass in the air, my right leg remaining on my left thigh, and my fingertips on the ground in front of me.

Holy shit. I did it.

Lower my ass down to squat, and with a few seconds, I attempt to balance.

I caught myself before I sat down, but you know what?

Those few seconds of the elusive Toe Stand count.

And I’m feeling pretty accomplished today.

In just a short amount of time, yoga has taught me something that years of running failed to prove. My body may not be perfectly suited for any particular sport, but with daily practice, I can see gains that I didn’t think possible. Every day I get a little stronger, a little more flexible, hold poses for a longer period of time. Bodies truly do come in all shapes and sizes, and they are all welcome in the yoga studio.

If you judge people by their body type, you’ll be in for a major letdown when you walk into the yoga studio. That guy with the ripped abs? He may not be able to bend past his waist. And the girl with the big muffin top? She will rock the Standing Bow Pose.

You just never know.

So, check your ego at the door, wear as little as possible with comfort in mind, and know that the only difference between your body and the rest of your classmates is the fact that it’s yours, and only you know your limitations and when it makes good sense to gently push your limits.

I may never get that ‘runner’s body’ back again, and you know what? That’s okay.

I love the body I have right now, because it allowed me to accomplish something new today, and it’s only going to get stronger.

Namaste.

Day Two

Not only did I survive my first day of Bikram yoga, but I returned just 24 hours later for more of the same.

This morning found me in the same room, in virtually the same spot as I was just a day earlier for my inaugural yoga class. Today, I felt perhaps a teeny bit more comfortable, and I was ready to enter the ‘torture room’ once again.

One thing that immediately struck me as I finished up with my first yoga class yesterday was just how little I truly cared about getting up so early to attend. Normally, I would balk at rising before the sun to attend any sort of organized exercise class, but this just felt…..different. It felt relaxing and challenging at the same time.

I never thought that was possible.

For those who might not know, I had previously participated in CrossFit before bowing out gracefully a few months back, and with a return to running, I honestly didn’t see CrossFit fitting into my life anymore. I missed running, and all those endorphins. In the end, I identified more with running and less with CrossFit.

To each their own, right?

I had heard about Bikram yoga from a friend who raved about it. She claimed it literally transformed her life.

Well, shit. How could I NOT attend at least one class to see what all the hullabaloo was about?

After yesterday’s successful debut, I decided pretty early on yesterday afternoon that I was going to get up and do it all over again today. I am so glad I did.

Today was a bit harder and a bit easier all at the same time. Some of the poses that I struggled with yesterday seemed just a tiny bit easier to find today. While I am far from gracefully completing the Eagle pose, at least I figured out exactly how to interlock my appendages while my body carefully found its sweet spot. After each of my two classes, I feel refreshed, energized, and the flush from the workout doesn’t leave my face for hours.

As we women can attest, we are always our own worst critic, right? In Bikram, you are in a brightly-lit studio with no lack of mirrors to view your own reflection. I’ve never actually participated in anything that truly made me take a good look at myself as much as I have in the past two days. It’s humbling. It’s real. It’s me.

In some respects, I love what I see as my reflection greets me. In other respects, I see just how much work I have to do. After only two days, I can see how accountable yoga will be for me. I will face my own reflection day after day, and only I can see changes that may inevitably occur.

I find the heat therapeutic, cleansing, but most of all I get a sense of intimacy. The heat cannot be ignored. The heat is there to help you push through and gain a new sense of what your body can actually accomplish. I am more flexible in the past two days than I probably have been my entire life. I like that.

So, with two days under my belt, I have made a commitment to myself to attend daily as many days in a row that I am able. I have my schedule made out for at least the next eight days. At the end of those eight days, I will see where I stand and how I feel.

We shall see.