Wit

There are two reasons I decided to study nursing: first, I want to be able to help when there is an emergency or a disaster. second, ever since I was a little girl, I aimed to please, or more importantly to inspire and uplift.

This semester in nursing school we were given an opportunity to choose from a list of films to count as service hours. From this list, I looked forward to viewing the movie Wit, starring Emma Thompson.

The main character, a scholarly professor is diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. She is given eight sessions of chemotherapy at “full” dose, which eventually does more harm to her than the cancer.

Besides gut renching vomit, pain, hairloss, myelosuppression (suppression of the production of blood cells and platelets causing extremely high risk for infection), and isolation; chemotherapy (not the cancer) destroys epithelial cells in the esopagus causing painful sores. In which point, we become fragile mortals who delight in the simple cold taste of a frozen popsicle and ice chips. All that is left at this stage or all that is required is kindness and compassion by healthcare providers.

A patient with cancer must feel like they are completely isolated at the end stage of their illness. Some health care providers although skilled, fall short in administering kindness and compassion when treating these patients.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen a patient's health improve just because they were shown compassion or because someone took the time to give them "the best bath they have ever had". (Thank you brother Cannon for sharing your experiences). It is the small things that matter in life. It's not necessarily the things you know, but more importantly the things you do. A simple smile or touch can change the world for someone who is ill or simply having a bad day. Next time I arrive to work feeling grumpy because I'm tired and don't want to be there, I will remember that this is my time to "Inspire and uplift."

Recap of this year

Well, I should be studying for a test but instead I am blogging. Maybe if we had some chitlins I would post more, but we don't so I wont. Since I'm not very good at blogging here are a few pictures that represent our year so far. Here's the yearly update: I'm still in nursing, Maggie is still cute, We made some jam with my dad, had another anniversary, went on a cruise to the Carribean, and fished at Scowfield. Then we had a blast in Lake Powell and Chris shot his first deer. No kids yet but if you see any lying around, send em to our house.

Election Day

Angie and I voted today. This election really worries me because I don't think most people understand how much of a socialist Barack Hussein Obama is. Last time I read the Constitution health care was not a right, welfare is not a right. Free speech is a right. Go look up the Fairness Doctrine supported by Barack Hussein. Its very interesting. It will close down free speech on talk radio. I do have a right to my Guns. Some of you might think I am a backwoods redneck but I feel very comfortable knowing that I and my law abiding neighbors can protect our families and homes if needed. All gun control will do is take guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens. Don't get me wrong I am not a full John McCain supporter but I look at him as the lesser of two evils. Whatever happens today with the election good luck and God Bless America

Update

I think our last update was two months ago. Angie is very busy with school and just does not have time to keep this up. She is getting an A in nursing this semester so I guess I cant get to upset that we never see each other. I guess if I (Chris) blog I can pick the pictures I and the subject. In September Angie and I went with the Burrs and the Scows hunting up Ephraim Canyon. It was my second year hunting and Sister Scows first year hunting. We both killed our first deer on the last day of our hunts. Here are a few pictures of the fun.