Little Heroes

Children are My Heroes.

One of my first patients at work was a five-year-old girl whose dog jumped out of its kennel and chewed on her face. She simply sat there coloring and wiping her poor face with a piece of gauze. She wouldn't let me give her some pain medication. Unfortuately her parents were just the opposite. The grandparents were arguing. Mom was sobbing. Dad was yelling at mom to be quiet. All were going on about how they had shot the dog and it was dead. This blue-eyed blonde-haired little girl loved that dog and did for 3 years. I'm not an expert in child psychology but she looked sad and scared during this whole conversation. This traumatized 5 yr old was acting more mature than her parents and grandparents. She did wave as they took wheeled her to the OR. Children just make my job!

Another hero was an 18 yr-old who while showing off--he dunked a basketball, hung on the rim, then decided to slip and fall right on his arm. The result--his humerous snapped in half and totally dislocated. I have seen grown men cry more than he did. On the upside his bicep was massive--he was proud of that. Despite the movement, splinting, and wrapping I did not see a single tear or attempt to hit me. He simply and calmly asked for some pain medication til he walked out the door. Good to know not all the big boys (he was over 6ft tall) are babies.

I contrast these to the MANY overdoses that walked and rolled through the doors yesterday. In nursing I'm still considered a newbie. However, I'm not an idiot. When I've seen you everyday for a week and you ask for the same thing and come in for the same reason come on!!! My patient yesterday came in completely stoned. I gave narcan; low and behold he woke up and talked to me!! Shocker I know. Literally the first words out of his mouth, "My hip hurts! I haven't slept in days! Can I get something for the pain?" How dumb do you think I am? The stories always change his had over and over and over. People wonder why I have lost my faith in humanity. Try battling druggies over and over. Don't hit on me, yell at me, or threaten to sue me. I'm not stupid. Go get your fix elsewhere.

Hence the reason Children are my Heroes--they often out shine adults in how we should behave.