Sitting in this room, it’s cold; and there’s nothing you can do. Shivering, and wondering “Why am I here today?” The clock going “Tick Tock” “Tick Tock”; time is just the passing by. You are twiddling your fingers. The doctor comes in with unexpected news, and his expression painted upon his face didn’t look too good. There are so many things running through your head, and just when you thought everything was going as expected,----- this happens. You are still seated, and you are in complete bewilderment, who would’ve thought a six letter word could be so deadly!
Every saturday, each patient come as one at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The children have their own identities that make them unique, and sharing their similarities of their sickness bringing them closer together as a whole. On the outside, it’s just an dull building with vibrant red letters on it, but on the inside there are so many distinctive personalities, joyous smiles, and what about the passionate workers?. The smiles beam upon these children’s faces; new patients, old patients they are all there fighting for their life.. Walking in as an inexperienced person of research of Cancer, I realized that everyone has a story, and sometimes people can’t help the circumstances they are in.
The six letter word intrigues me the most------- CANCER that is. Cancer is a sensitive topic, because it is as fatal as poison. Cancer has no cure at all. Any type of Cancer can kill you basically, and it’s very common to get cancer, because it’s not realized until you visit the doctor’s office. Cancer is not only lethal now in modern day, it has been present for a while now. I look at all the diseases that are starting to become more common in today, and Cancer is the...
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...sting, stressful long day of school. Even though I don’t normally take the timeout to acknowledge people, dealing with these group of kids will help me not only have a better outlook on life, but also fix how I am with other people.
The kids may have different prosperities, but they are all the same, and I would like to spend more time with not only the patients I have already met, but with new people that come to that hospital. Any sickness can give us a different expectation on life, and anytime we get some form of news like we have been diagnosed with something, it blows up in our face. We don’t really start looking about the future till we get news like that. People don’t really know what they had until it’s gone, because tomorrow is not promised. Be a leader. Be a fighter. You weren’t given these challenges if people didn’t believe you can overcome them.
Terry knew that aches and pains are common in athlete’s lives. At the end of his first year of university there was a new pain in his knee. One morning Terry woke up to see that he could no longer stand up. A week later Terry found out that it was not just an ache he had a malignant tumor; his leg would have to be cut off six inches above the knee. Terry’s doctor told him that he had a chance of living but the odds were fifty to seventy percent. He also said that he should be glad it happened now fore just 2 years ago the chance of living was fifteen percent. The night before his operation a former coach brought Terry a magazine featuring a man who ran a marathon after a similar operation. Terry didn’t want to do something small if he was going to do something he was going to do it big. "I am competitive" Terry said, "I’m a dreamer. I like challenges. I don’t give up. When I decided to do it, I knew it was going to be all out. There was no in between Terry’s sixteen month follow up he saw all the young people suffering and getting weak by the disease. He never forgot what he saw and felt burdened to thoughts that died to run this marathon. He was one of the lucky one in three people to survive in the cancer clinics. Terry wrote asking for sponsorship " I could not leave knowing that these faces and feelings would still be here even though I would be set free of mine, s...
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is a life-altering event. During this time, life is not only difficult for the patient, but also for their loved ones. Families must learn to cope together and to work out the best options for the patient and the rest of the family. Although it may not be fair at times, things may need to be centered on or around the patient no matter what the circumstance. (Abbott, 2003) Sacrifices may have to be made during difficult times. Many factors are involved when dealing with chronic illnesses. Coping with chronic illnesses alter many different emotions for the patients and the loved ones. Many changes occur that are very different and difficult to get used to. (Abbott, 2003) It is not easy for someone to sympathize with you when they haven’t been in the situation themselves. No matter how many books they read or people they talk to, they cannot come close to understanding.
Almost everyone either has lost someone due to cancer or knows someone who has battled cancer, but you can't appreciate how much suffering cancer patients go through. The Autobiography of a Face gives us the opportunity to relate to someone going through this that many people do not understand. Lucy Grealy does an exceptional job portraying the toll Chemotherapy puts on one's body. Pathos is used in order to make her audience feel the pain that she is going through to connect her to the audience. In this book you can understand Grealyś true feelings which makes you feel apart of her adventure and not want
Cancer is a deadly disease that millions of people die from a year. Many loved ones are killed with little to no warning affecting families across our world. My family happened to be one that was affected by this atrocious disease. This event changed the way my family members and I viewed cancer.
...en who are there each week are incredibly inspirational, and they never seem to be discouraged, even though some of the patients have been there for five to six weeks in a row. I look forward to seeing their smiling faces each time I visit, yet I cannot help but hope they will not be there but will be at home the next time I visit. The children and youth I have met at Children’s Hospital have become dear friends, and they have taught me that leadership involves making the most of the talents we each have been given, and seeking excellece, not perfection.
My first in-depth exposure to medicine was as a high school Intern at the Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI) In San Francisco. It was a disturbing, If fascinating, Introduction to oncology. I witnessed a holocaust from within --pain, fear and horror in patients my own age and younger. The Internship compelled me to reconsider my commitment to medicine, and persuaded me to resolve my feelings about death and dying and perhaps investigate other careers. At the same time, the patients so inspired me, and I felt so glad to be alive after I left CCRI, that I could never really forget. It became an image seared into my memory, a standard by which I judged all other experience.
The summer after my freshman year in college, I went back to Honduras to volunteer with the children who had leukemia at the National Public Hospital. I have never been as intimidated as my first day, when I followed the attending oncologist, while he was showing me the pediatric unit. He also explained my duties, which were attending and playing with the children. When I was left to start my job, I felt almost as nuisance in the midst of that hectic hospital room. Unsure on how to approach the patients, I looked around and found a tender smiling face. Although I was nervous, the warmth of his expression gave me the confidence to walk towards his bed. After a long and pleasant talk, I learned that Diego was from a remote rural town, and that his father visited him three days a week because he had to work to support his family. Diego suffered from a severe form of leukemia and had been hospitalized for nine months. Due to his poor health, he was unable to walk or even sit up in his bed. Hence, he developed atrophy in his legs causing them to lose strength and mobility. Yet with a huge sparkle in his eyes, Diego shared with me his dreams of becoming a great soccer player. As I turned away to retrieve the board games that he requested, I was moved by his courage to dream despite the hardships he was enduring at such a young age. This encounter was the beginning of an important turning point in my life. What initially began as a job became a real duty for me. I felt compelled and obligated to the children whom I interacted with, gaining satisfaction in doing so. At first, it seemed I was doing them a favor but rather it was the children that made an impact in my life. After I left Diego’s bedside that day, I was heartbroken to see h...
I was able to gather the wealth of knowledge that Lisa Sanders communicates in “Every patient tells a story”. This knowledge I speak about is beyond just “book knowledge” it is wisdom expressed in the words and through the eyes of the medical professionals and their patients. Even though this book had many lessons to offer, the key recurring theme/lesson/concept that is constantly communicated is the importance of a properly executed diagnosis. In the vivid description of the pain and suffering experienced by the patient, Cryst...
... support for people with cancer. The story of the patient and his family is inspiring, encouraging, informative, also comforting, all at once. This book has given me new understandings as a student nurse about how I should look at our patients, their families, and their caregivers. As a family member that played the role of caregivers they took their concerns and fears to God, they had the strength and courage to face their painful journey. I learned how to deal with the most complex of challenges which includes fear, denial, and how to find the way to spiritually prepare the patient and the caregivers. The most important part that cough my attention was the genuine compassion from the nurses changed and helped the family to reach that internal peace by giving the greatest care to the terminally ill and encourage the family to find the spiritual peace and comfort.
I hope to impact this professional with my knowledge and expertise. I am now in school again to further my knowledge of this profession. It may seem old for some. However, for me learning has no age and boundaries as I continued to gain more knowledge and perhaps someday I can be a mentor for my peers. I hope to someday work In Risk management where I can continue to fight and argue the rights of my patients and peers whom all deserve a sense of dignity and self-worth. My contribution to this profession includes providing and promoting care with a holistic approach that is inclusive of the mind, body, spiritual belief practices because the patients I see as being more than just another patient in need of my care. The patients are like you and I and perhaps wants the same as I want for them. I’m sure with my great sense of enthusiasm that I may accomplish something here because my day will never end until I make an unmistakable stamp on a profession I always wanted to practice since that little girl whose heart was touched by the many caring professionals that provided care to my mom. Sound like I’m on a mission that indeed I
It reminds us that every patient is human, in some type of crisis, vulnerable to the environment, deserves respect, and is in need of skilled/knowledgeable nursing care. A nu...
If I go to school, I get in my little black Tracker and drive up 741 to the parking lot. I pull into spot 41, get out, throw my bag over my shoulder, and go into the building. It’s a rare occasion that there isn’t a smile on my face throughout the day. I go to my friends and ask them how they’re doing. I know they can count on me to sincerely listen. I’ve worked hard for many years to become a good listener.
Mona Counts is a Nurse Practitioner at her own primary care facility. Her clinic provides health care to over five thousand patients who live in the heart of Appalachia. Bob Wilkinson is a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. Bob takes care of very sick children and their families. Ardis Bush started as a Staff Nurse over 25 years ago and worked her way up to being Nurse Manager. These nurses establish a rapport with their patients and their patients’ families by talking to them like normal human beings, and not just as patients. These nurses relate and listen to their patients, which makes them feel comfortable. Both Mona and Ardis even make house visits to check up on patients and to see how they are doing.
This was an existential experience that brought joy to children’s lives while receiving chemotherapy, as well as gave the parents some free time. Even though this experience greatly benefits the children fighting cancer, their sibling and parents, I can safely say that the children I met at Sunrise Day Camp and Long Island Jewish Cohens Children’s Hospital inspired me and continue to be my role models. In addition, through my experience volunteering for three years with Sunrise Association, I realized that I am benevolent and sensitive toward children and adolescents who are given a life that they do not deserve. I know that the characteristics I possess have confirmed that I am capable of fulfilling my dream and goals in the future. These many experiences opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on life and ignited my interest in the field of
My journey to become a nurse began when my youngest sister was diagnosed with synovial cell sarcoma. We spent months at the hospital by her side throughout her chemotherapy, radiation and several surgeries. Being around all those families and children in the hospital when many had illness's much worse than hers really opened my eyes to how much of an impact healthcare workers make on so many people’s lives and their families lives too. Although the situations that those children were in seemed so terrible, they had such joy and hope in their eyes.