For Steve in PA

[Guest guest]

Steve,

I wanted you to know how appreciative I am to know you. You are so intelligent,

and give me hope with your positive attitude. I am fifty-eight and am mad that

people very young have to be in so much pain but I have seen it with my young

patients; One thing I realized is that the young ones smiled,laughed, and loved

every day of life they could.

My one vivid memory is of a seven year old with brain cancer we gave a lollipop

and nicknamed him " Kojak " since he was bald. He loved it and " played detective "

with us.

Each cancer patient I treated taught me so much and being in the cancer field at

eighteen taught me a lot about life. I don't know if I told you or not this

story but

our therapy clinic is across the street from the hospital where the ambulance

had to pick some of our patients up for treatment and they were charged for

the-transport.

My Doctor, sweet man, found a hearse (yea, hearse) and we were all trained to

transport and we did not charge them. He told each patient it would be a hearse

and would they be offended and they all said " No and appreciated the

consideration " The stories my patients came up about that, Like " I am practicing

so I will be ready " " I am going to one of the few that rides in here with my

eyes open " . One young man asked me and my cohort if he would ride him through

the Sonic Drive In (the young people do this as social interaction) so we rode

him through, him waving and we went through about three or four times. To see

this guy laugh and enjoy some life was so uplifting and was so theraputic for

me.

Well, my office manager got a call and we got a lecture but we didn't care. Of

course my classic story to show something about communication is, One nicl older

gentleman used to come by stretcher and was always holding himeelf in his

private part so hard that it was purple and privately we called him the " Purple

Throbber " . The next day, worried about him injurying himself,

I told him " Let go of yourself ! " Well, he did and peed all over me. The poor

guy was incontinent and was trying not to pee on himself or others . I called

the nurse and she put in a cather, something

that should have happened a long time ago. The ability to communicate is so

important.

I may walk in front of a car tomorrow and I have to remind myself more often

that even in pain I have to love life and that is the hardest part and not

having pain relief robs me of the ability to be part of my family and community.

Your posts have encouraged me to do that. Didn't want to be corny but wanted you

to know. This members and moderators of this group mean much to me and everyone

has always posted something I can learn from. Thanks Bennie in a corny mood

(thats what my son says when I love on him " Mon, your'e being corny " .