[SmilingBluEyes]

We all may have wonderful stories....but only some of us are able to tell them in such compelling and colorful ways....

[Mermaid4]

Yep, I saw that Deb...I was actually kind of flattered when you said you read it before..Then I wondered if I had somehow plagerized someone else...Like I said in the essay, I have been sick lately, and to be perfectly stereotypical, I AM blonde....
I just didn't read far enough...Silly goose!

[nursemary9]

Hi
You really should look into getting published.
You have that knack of hooking the reader in immediately;
I'd buy!!

Are you the same person who has written other things here?

Mary Ann

[Mermaid4]

Thanks all , but I have to say with the posts I read here, I feel the same feelings you all describe when I know what you have written is from the heart and your own experiences...I guess I just some how "see" a way to make my story affect the reader. I don't know how or why I do, but I see much of that in the posts I read here..You guys probably don't even realize how much YOU affect people with what you write and all you do...Sometimes it is mostly about describing how you felt when you went into a room, how you had "a feeling" something was about to happen, or something was wrong." I can't explain it. In my case, it just comes....I guess I was born to be a conduit for nurses or for people who sometimes don't feel that anyone could possibly understand what they are going through. But, I think we all do that as nurses, every day. Once, I was challenged by an instructor to actually write down all that I did for one patient in one shift. If you really did that, you would write a book just for that one person for that one shift. Nurses don't realize how important and imperative they are...I want others to see that...

[VickyRN]

Very beautifully written, Martha (I am typing through my tears).

[Spidey's mom]

Amazing story - similar to an experience I had when I was a brand new nurse. I stayed 17 hours with the couple until she did the same thing, up to the bathroom, although she made it back to bed with some help from me with the bag/placenta still attached. That was very difficult. The baby was too deteriorated to do what you did. The parents never saw the baby. It was my first experience with a fetal demise.

As heartbreaking as these experiences are, they are the reasons I stay a nurse. It was profoundly moving to me that this couple invited me in to their grief-stricken experience.

steph

[Cubby]

That was one of the most touching articles I have read. I do not work L&D (It scares me. I could not help someone go through what you have described.) but I do admire the ones of you who do. As a mother who has lost an infant, I also say "Thank You" for the help. Nurses were the ones who helped me and my husband get through the crisis. You ROCK.

[kellyo]

I am a first semester nursing student. My decision to become a nurse was cemented by ONE nurse who helped me labor with my first son. I will never forget how she made me feel... like I was her only patient, like I was her sister or daughter or friend. While my outcome was joyous, she still was able to calm me and soothe me in one of the scariest times of my life. Sometimes strangers have more impact on us than people we know... She will NEVER forget you.

[BETSRN]

We just had a 19 week demise last evening. It is always hard for all those involved and I do think we make such a difference to the parents.

[Godswill]

you are a wonderful nurse as i read you story i felt like that mother, i know how it feels to be refuse meds, even though no harm can come to baby. I sure wish the nurse i had was half the nurse you are HUgs