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Thursday, December 11, 2014

Sweet Sisters

As some of you may (or may not) know, I'm a nurse. Specifically I'm a med-surg/tele nurse.  My unit has the (theoretically) least-sick patients in the hospital, meaning that I typically take care of at least 5 at a time and they come and go quickly.  I estimated once that I take care of over 50 patients a month (and I only work 15 days a month).  All this to say, if a nurse has ever taken care of you and when you run into each other in WalMart she doesn't remember you, there's a good reason.  Generally, if I remember a patient they were either very unpleasant or things didn't go well for them. But not always. Sometimes patients just stick with you. And that's the way it is with Mrs R.


Mrs. R was my patient back in about October of last year.  She was admitted with something fairly minor, particularly considering that she was over 90 years old. She was a charmer, always pleasant and smiling. I remember her being concerned about missing Seniors Game Day at the library, an event she coordinated and ran every week for seniors- mostly younger than herself- who needed some place to socialize.  She was anxious to discharge so she could drive to Dallas to meet her new triplet great (possibly great-great?) grand babies.


Her sister, also in her 90s, came to visit her one of the days I took care of her. They were both retired school teachers, with the tiniest most perfect English teacher handwriting I've ever seen. Had both outlived their husbands. Both still driving and living alone. Something about them just grabbed on to me.  Mrs. R and I exchanged Christmas cards last year.


I saw her again on our unit, sometime in the Spring. She had come down with heart failure-- the common cold of the elderly. Unfortunately it's chronic and progressive.  But she was still maintaining her usual schedule of obligations.


On Thanksgiving day I happened to see her again, admitted to another unit in the hospital, and it was such a sweet reunion.  She told me that she had prayed we would see each other again and there she was, sitting in the hallway as I was leaving at the end of my shift.  She was anxious to make sure I still had her address and I assured her that I'd kept it. This year, I said, maybe you'll even get a present ;)


So naturally I had to make quilts for Mrs. R and her sweet sister.   Smallish so that they can fit on a hospital bed or over a wheelchair. As cruel as it is time marches on, and I can see that Mrs. R is more frail than last year.  I backed them with cozy flannel and pieced in the leftovers from the front.


This was my first time to try rolling the backing over for a binding. I love the look, but it took just as long as binding the conventional way.  For some reason I had thought it would be faster.


These went in the mail today, with a Christmas card, on their way to Mrs. R.  I told her that she gets first pick of the quilts, but I have a suspicion that she'll want her sister to choose first.


It's so wonderful to have patients who remind me of why I went into nursing, even if it is not very often.  I hope these quilts will bring love and warmth and that these sweet ladies have many happy years ahead of them full of grand babies.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Friday.

14 comments:

  1. What a sweet story, it warms my heart. I'm sure they will enjoy them very much.

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  2. Sometimes there are those special people we look after that really touch us. Mrs R obviously has made a connection with you as well as you with her and I would love to be there when she receives her quilt. That is a wonderful thing you have done for her and her sister Kat. A very Merry Christmas to you.

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  3. So amazing that someone can so quickly make an impact. I actually had to read this story to my hubby as well. Thanks so much for sharing and hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

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  4. Such a sweet story! You are a very kind lady to make such beautiful quilts for your patients. I wish that everyone was as friendly as you are! I am sure that they will love them.
    -Brittany

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  5. What a wonderful story Kat and beautiful quilts to gift to Mrs R and her sister. So heartwarming and so in the spirit of the season! I agree with Marlene, I would love to be there when she receives the quilts! So sweet! Merry Christmas to you!

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  6. What a lovely story. I am sure these quilts will be cherished!

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  7. Lovely quilts and a lovely story. I have no doubt it will make her day.

    You probably already know this, but, as a nurse, you see people at their worse. I know that I am like a different person when I am sick or in pain, plus, generally speaking, being in hospital is much less comfortable than being in your own home. I am very glad that there are people like you who are willing to take care of us, no matter angry, sad, whingey, uncomfortable, needy, rude, etc, that we may be. Thank you.

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  8. What a wonderful nurse! There are people in all of our lives that make that kind of impression. We often remember them at every holiday but sometimes do not do those special things for them.....Merry Christmas to you.

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  9. How sweet! I am happy for you and Mrs R for your friendship! What a blessing all around! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  10. What a lovely story, and a beautiful friendship. Your quilts are gorgeous.

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  11. I work in healthcare, too and there are sometimes those patients that you just have a connection with. I enjoyed reading about your connection with Mrs R and the quilts you made for her and her sister. Pretty quilts! Thanks for sharing!

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  12. That is such a lovely tale - what a kind generous person you are to think of two such frail little ladies. What a thrill for them to get one of your beautiful quilts each.

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  13. What a wonderful story and wonderful quilts!

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  14. That is so lovely Kat, I'm sure they will adore them.

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