I came home from work one day and mom said, “We are going on a cruise. I entered us in a contest to go on a caregiver cruise.” I laughed, and said, “Great,” and went into the other room. Later she told me that I needed to go online and vote…that is when I realized what had happened. She was so excited, she said, “If I win this contest, I can do something for you.” I said, “Mommy, the chances of you winning are almost impossible.”

She looked at me so straight and said, “Nothing is impossible. I have Alzheimer’s. The doctors told us a year or so ago that by now I wouldn’t know anyone, and I am not perfect, but I am not gone yet. My mind still works on some days. And you have MS, your doctors told you if you continued to care for me at home that you would not be walking now, and you are. Nothing is impossible…sometimes, when you want, and hope, and dream and pray, and get your family and friends involved in your goal it works…nothing is impossible and you and me are proof”

So, I voted for my first time for the cruise. That was a couple of weeks ago. Since signing up for this contest mom has only had a couple of Alzheimer’s days. Her days are full of planning for a cruise, seeing the ocean for the first time…putting her toes in the sand. She tells me that she thinks the contest is good for her Alzheimer’s. Read more…

This morning when I got mom up from bed she looked at me and said, “Oh, Sunshine, I sure have missed you. I am so happy to see you.” She giggled and while I was dressing her she said, “Yesterday the girl that was here taking care of me was wearing your cologne. She smelled like you, but I knew it wasn’t you because she was so so sick. I felt sorry for her. She had to take a nap and rest. I don’t want to get her in trouble, but I am so happy that you are back today. I missed you so much.” She hugged me and said, let’s never quit hugging, and she just giggled.

After lunch she said, I think when you are so sick that I don’t want to think about it so in my mind I make you someone else, that way I don’t have to think about you in pain. I’m sorry if I leave you some days. Don’t leave me, OK?

I told her, “No way…no way Mom. No way.” Read more…

Today Missy and I went to look at a new nursing facility. It is close to our home. Missy has so many medical bills and  she hasn’t worked for the last few years because she is taking care of me. We would of been OK but Missy’s MS drugs are over 3500.00 a month, her insurance will not pay because they are considered preventive, so for 3 years she has paid for them. Then when her insurance denied her surgeries because of the cancer clause. We were up a creek.

I am going to have to move to a nursing facility, not real soon, but soon. The place was nice, all the people were nice and smiled at me.  Afterward, we went to McDonald’s and took our lunch to the river. We sat in the car and watched the barges go by. I started crying, and told Missy,  “Don’t make me go yet. I will be good, I can stay by myself all day till you get home. I will be OK.”

I told her I was scared to go there and be with strangers, that it wasn’t time yet, I was still me. Missy started crying and told me that I didn’t have to go yet, that she would work something out, that she never wants me to be scared. She told me that if she had to sell her car, and all the furniture in the house that I didn’t have to go yet…that she would work something out. Read more…

Standing in the middle of the nurse’s station, I faxed a chart to Spring Harbor for our psych patient in room 11 and I watched the patient in room 3. Her twisted body was lying on the stretcher in a semi-sitting position. She was covered in a blanket and her feet were hanging out, uncovered. I chuckled to myself because that is how I lay as well—I hate my feet covered! She was talking to her husband. He was gently rubbing her crooked hand…they noticed me watching and both smiled at me, so I smiled back.

I finished faxing the chart and then went into room 3. “So how ya doin in here?” I asked her.
“Just fine.” She answered with a smile.
“Can I get you anything, or reposition you?”
“I would like to be turned.”

I grabbed our tech Paula to help me and we gently turned and repositioned her to the left side, propping pillows behind her and under her legs and between her knees. I gave her a back rub, applied some lotion and covered her with a warm blanket. She thanked us and then said “I’m so sorry to make so much work for you girls.”

“Please don’t say that…it is our pleasure to help you.” I answered with a smile, and I meant it.

This woman has MS and it has ravaged her body…she is not old…she fully has her mind and can breathe on her own but she has no use of her body whatsoever! Read more…

Nurse Talk joined the team Walk or Grow Wings last Saturday in Santa Rosa, California to walk for a cure for MS. Inspired by the people in our lives with Multiple Sclerosis, the team raised over $9000 under the enthusiastic and able leadership of Karen Krueger. Thank you to everyone who donated, walked or volunteered. If you are so moved, you can still donate. A shout out to Missy and Barbara Vaughan you were with us in spirit.

The team name Walk or Grow Wings was chosen as a tribute to  Kim McIlnay, a physician diagnosed in 2007 who inspired Karen for Walk MS Sacramento in 2010 with the original Team Walk or Grow Wings. Read more…

Sweetheart of the Nurse Talk staff, Austyn Leigh with team captain Karen Krueger

Nurse Talk joined the team Walk or Grow Wings last Saturday in Santa Rosa, California to walk for a cure for MS. Inspired by the people in our lives with Multiple Sclerosis, the team raised over $9000! Read more…

We have lots of great topics and discussions going on on our blog and Facebook pages. Stroke patient, Joyce Hoffman has been telling it like it is from the patient’s perspective. Do you know how your patients see you or what a lasting difference your care can make?

And, we’ve got current events from National Nurses United. Nurses, Robin Hood and the band of merry women and men, and scores of friends are strapping on their boots and preparing to head to Chicago for a protest Friday, May 18 during the Staff Nurse Assembly.

Must See Video: Our resident comedian Lynn Ruth Miller as she wows the judges (all but one?) on Britain’s Got Talent. See it here.

Due to the grave illness of host Casey’s father we were unable to tape our show this week. Please hang with us while we give you one more rerun. We thank and appreciate each and every one of our listeners, friends sponsors and others for making Nurse Talk possible. WE WILL be back next week with current issues, our fantastic new co-host Shayne Mason, and some wild and crazy entertainment.

ON this week’s Best of Nurse Talk Casey and Dan chat with Boston RN Karen Higgins. Karen is past president of Massachusetts Nurses Association and one of three co-presidents for National Nurses United. Karen shares her views on the continuing need for single payer health care in our country, the urgency regarding nurse-patient ratios and other important issues that affect all of us.

AND some great advice about taking care of your parents or other elderly loved ones. Kira Reginato joins us. Kira is the president of Living Ideas for Elders and is the host of her own radio show on KSRO, The Elder Care Show in Santa Rosa, California.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:43 — 49.2MB) | Embed

Joining Casey (Dan was excused to go to Chuck E. Cheese with seven 8-year olds) is RN Dorothy Ahmad. Dorothy is a CCU nurse at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. Recently registered nurses at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center on Chicago’s South Side voted by 85 percent to join National Nurses United, the nation’s largest union and professional association of RNs. The Jackson Park RNs voted 94 to 16 to join NNU.

Casey then visits with Jennifer Gainza, the communications director for the Northern California chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We asked Jennifer to come on the show and talk with us about MS, the signs the symptoms and current treatments. Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:43 — 49.2MB) | Embed

Photo: Nurses from Chicago’s landslide vote to join NNU

Well, this week we continue with our little walk down memory lane. We’ll hear from a caller named Mary Ellen who by the end of the call was not very happy with us. She recently sent us an email telling us her legs still hurt and we are crackpots!

For more where this came from check out our Comedy Pharm at nursetalksite.com.

Joining Casey (Dan was excused to go to Chuck E. Cheese with seven 8-year olds) is RN Dorothy Ahmad. Dorothy is a CCU nurse at Stroger Hospital in Chicago. Recently registered nurses at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center on Chicago’s South Side voted by 85 percent to join National Nurses United, the nation’s largest union and professional association of RNs. The Jackson Park RNs voted 94 to 16 to join NNU.

Casey then visits with Jennifer Gainza, the communications director for the Northern California chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We asked Jennifer to come on the show and talk with us about MS, the signs the symptoms and current treatments.

We were recently prompted to inquire about Multiple Sclerosis when our Nurse Talk web producer Tonia McCallum’s 20-year-old niece Austyn was diagnosed. Nurse Talk is sponsoring her team. Read more…