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Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The "One and Done Crew"


I also have some wonderful Nurses that care for me that DON'T WAKE ME UP all night!

I had to go in for growth hormone shots every day. 2 shots a day to force my body to make more stem cells than it needs.  They burn going in and hurt for hours until my body recovers from the invasion of the needles and medicine. Every other day I have to have blood work to see how many stem cells I'm growing.  Because my immune system was destroyed by the chemo I have to wear a mask when I leave the house and I'm only allowed to leave the house to go to the doctor.

 FIELD TRIP!

One day I also had pressure in my ear so the Transplant team up north wanted someone to look at it and see what was going on.
So this one day, I was going to have 3 things happening to me.

I showed up and signed in and was whisked off to a room where 3 ladies were standing there waiting for me.  They saw me get off the elevator from their office and gathered what they needed and came for me.  As I walked in Nurse Jackie held up the 2 syringes and said in a slow deep sexy Dracula-like voice "Welcome, please have a seat" pointing to a chair in the middle of the exam room. Nurse Kathy, standing next to her held up the butterfly needle and blood vial that I was going to fill and in a slow deep sexy Dracula like voice said "We are here to take your blood". The 3rd lady was Gloria, a PA, holding her laptop across her arms also in a deep sexy Dracula-like voice said "I'm here to look in your ear" Then they all started smiling and had me sit down.

You've been in those exam rooms right? The're the size of a postage stamp with a bed (well sort of bed), sink and what they call a desk.  Now add us 4 ladies in the middle of the room and you get the picture, right?

I sat in the chair and all 3 started working on me at once! Jackie gave me the shots in the fat of my right arm, while Kathy took blood out of my only good vein left in my left forearm and Gloria looked in my ear.  We were so close that the two with the needles were bumping hips which made me laugh. I started laughing as it struck me that I was like a race car at the Indie 500! Jack it up, rotate the ties and get her down and out onto the track in under 15 seconds. As I was laughing, Kathy looked at me and said "Now stop wiggling, you only got 1 good vein". They did their jobs and poked, drawn and examined me in record time!  I told them how much fun they were to watch.  We shared a good laugh.

They are part of the "One and Done Crew". Nurses who can get blood out of you or meds into you on the very first try. No matter what your veins look like or how much you squirm with laughter. They Never have to poke you twice or move the needle in your vein until it takes.

Turned out my ear was an easy fix and only needed something to dry up sinuses. I told them how much I love them all for their care and kindness. Gloria said "You're welcome - now get out of here, there are sick people here you know!" and with that I was back on the elevator while everyone was laughing as I left.

They understand just how serious my condition is but face it with great compassion, humor and laughter. They are proactive and concerned.  I love my team!!!


13 comments:

  1. Glad you have such a compassionate group caring for you! As someone who has shy, tiny veins, I would certainly appreciate a few more nurses and phlebotomists trained in the One and Done Method! ;-)

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    1. My veins are not very good and move a lot so having the One and Done team work on me is HUGE. I think all nurses need to be part of that group.

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  2. Having a good team of both doctors and nurses can make all the difference in the world to someone's recovery. Glad you've been blessed in that regard!

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    1. Thank you, I love my team! I do feel very blessed to have them caring for me.

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  3. I think it takes a special person to be a nurse/doctor who works in oncology; seems like you have a great group of them!

    betty

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    1. I agree with you so much. They make a hard day better.

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  4. Now those are the kind of people you want taking care of you when you're not feeling well! They sound so wonderful.

    Take care.

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    1. They are wonderful, they dress for the holidays, make us laugh and still understand just how sick we are. So kind, so wonderful.

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  5. Praise the Lord for your "One and Done" crew! And thanks for sharing your experience with us.

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    1. I hope that if anyone ever needs an oncology nurse, that they get someone from the One and Done crew.

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  6. How blessed they are to have a patient like you to care for!! And they are a blessing for you, too. When you have to suffer through nasty times, it's good to be able to laugh and enjoy each other. Praise God for the good team you have!

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  7. Nurses sure are a special breed of people! Their jobs go above and beyond what they have to do. God bless the ones in your life!

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  8. Love your analogy of your pit crew. They certainly are taking good care of you. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

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