Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul: Second Dose Read online

  CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE NURSE’S SOUL, SECOND DOSE

  CHICKEN SOUP

  FOR THE

  NURSE’S SOUL

  Second Dose

  More Stories to Honor and

  Inspire Nurses

  Jack Canfield

  Mark Victor Hansen

  LeAnn Thieman

  Health Communications, Inc.

  Deerfield Beach, Florida

  www.hcibooks.com

  www.chickensoup.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Canfield, Jack, 1944–

  Chicken soup for the nurse’s soul, second dose / Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, LeAnn Thieman.

  p. cm.

  eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9853-7 (ebook) eISBN-10: 0-7573-9853-7 (ebook)

  1. Nursing—Anecdotes. 2. Nurses—Anecdotes. I. Hansen, Mark Victor. II. Thieman, LeAnn. III. Title.

  RT61.C376 2007

  610.73—dc22

  2007025776

  © 2007 John T. Canfield and Hansen and Hansen LLC

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

  Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

  3201 S.W. 15th Street

  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442–8190

  Cover design by Andrea Perrine Brower

  Inside formatting by Dawn Von Strolley Grove

  To all nurses, true angels of mercy.

  Thank you for continually easing

  the suffering of the world.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  Share with Us

  1. DEFINING MOMENTS

  Hope Jeri Darby

  Pilar Terry Evans

  Memories of Polo Sharon T. Hinton

  Nurse Nancy Nancy Barnes

  Welcome to War Emily Morris

  Confessions of a CNO Val Gokenbach

  2. HEART OF A NURSE

  The Exchange Cyndi S. Schatzman

  Christmas in July Kathleen E. Jones

  Sacred Moments Jude L. Fleming

  Nurse, Heal Thyself Patty Smith Hall

  A Nurse’s Touch Maryjo Faith Morgan

  Finding Christ in a Hospice Father Gent Ullrich as told to John Fagley

  Halloween Jean Kirnak

  Miss Benjamin Miriam Hill

  The Day “Doc” Goss Became a Nurse Patrick Mendoza

  Goodnight, Harry Harry J. as told to Daniel James

  Comforter Cindy Hval

  3. LOVE

  Perfect Child Diana M. Amadeo

  Child’s Therapy Barbara Haile

  A Sign of Love Annisha Asaph

  Katie Gail Wenos

  Winter’s Story Christine Linton

  Serendipity? Tori Nichols

  Billie Kerrie G. Weitzel

  No Reply Marlene Caroselli

  4. CHALLENGES

  Mirachelle Ruth Bredbenner

  Mother and Nurse Mary Pennington

  The Other Side of the Bed Cyndi S. Schatzman

  A Dose of Compassion Karen Fisher-Alaniz

  Chimes of Joy Judy Bailey

  Tom’s Mountain Brian O’Malley

  To Kunuri and Back Jean Kirnak

  Back to Life L. Sue Booth

  Stumbling onto Something Real Barbara Bartlein

  Do That Voodoo That You Do So Well Karen Rowinsky

  A Nurse’s Prayer Ruth Kephart

  5. BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

  The Promise Gina Hamor

  I Can’t Go to Heaven Yet Sue Henley

  Making the Grade Susan Fae Malkin

  The New Grad Vanessa Bruce Ingold

  John Doe L. Sue Booth

  A Heart for Haiti Anna M. DeWitt as told to Twink DeWitt

  MERCI Helen French as told to LeAnn Thieman

  A Relay of Control Flo LeClair

  The Tale of the Sale Kathy Brown

  6. LESSONS

  The Creepy Visitor Joyce Seabolt

  Janet David Avrin

  A Lesson in Saying Good-bye Barbara Scales

  One Patient Peggy Krepp

  There Is Nun Better Ronald P. Culberson

  Fish Therapy Daniel James

  Bridge to a Silent World Margaret Hevel

  The Survivor Mary Clare Lockman

  This Is Bill Susan Stava

  The Value of Time Lillie D. Shockney

  7. MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE

  Fifty-Fifty L. Sue Booth

  A Necessary Change Anne Johnson

  Catch of the Day Carol McAdoo Rehme

  Saving the Best Till Last Delores Treffer

  Gang-Style Carla Tretheway as told to Eva Marie Everson

  100 Kathleen D. Pagana

  This Is the Way We Brush Our Teeth Beverly Houseman

  An Alien Named Maria Cheryl Herndon

  Two Choices Glenna Anderson Muse

  8. DIVINE INTERVENTION

  Do You Hear the Bells? Judy Whorton

  A Mysterious Intervention Margaret Lang with NancyMadson

  Laura’s Story Patricia J. Gardner

  The Infant Thea Picklesimer as told to Sandra P. Aldrich

  I See Glory Sue Henley

  Our Daily Bread Sharon Weinland Georges as told to Judith Weinland Justice

  Another Wavelength Anne Wilson

  I’m Going to Die! Kathy B. Dempsey

  His Heart Thea Picklesimer as told to Sandra P. Aldrich

  9. HOPE

  The Reason Tracy Crump

  An Easter Lesson Sylvia Martinez as told to Barbara Cueto

  A Peaceful Day Ivani Greppi

  Chimes in the Snow Carol Shenold

  The Lifeline Tracy Crump

  My Name Is John John as told to Kelly Martindale

  New Life Thomas Winkel

  Sustained Me Wendy Young

  Optimistic Light Jessica Kennedy

  10. THANK YOU

  God Supplies Angels Susan Lugli

  To School Nurses Ellen Javernick

  Angels of Mercy Lola Di Giulio De Maci

  To the Nurse Who Served in Vietnam Kerry Pardue

  God’s Hand James E. Robinson

  Knowing Your Limits Frank Serigano

  Thanking Ruby Jacqueline Gray Carrico

  Thank You for Your Care Denise A. Dewald

  More Chicken Soup?

  Supporting Others

  Who Is Jack Canfield?

  Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?

  Who Is LeAnn Thieman?

  Contributors

  Permissions

  Acknowledgments

  We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the following people who helped make this book possible:

  Our families, who have been chicken soup for our souls!

  Jack’s family: Inga, Travis, Riley, Christopher, Oran, and Kyle for all their love and support.

  Mark’s family: Patty, Elisabeth, and Melanie Hansen, for once again sharing and lovingly supporting us in creating yet another book.

  LeAnn’s devoted, loving, supportive family: Mark, Angela, Brian, Dante, Lia, Christie, Dave, Dagny, and Mitch.

  Our publisher Peter Vegso, for his vision and commitment to bringing Chicken Soup for the Soul to the world.

  Patty Aubery and Russ Kamalski, for being there on every step of the journey, with support, wisdom, and endless creativity.

  D’ette Corona, coauthor liaison extraordinaire, who, from behind t
he scenes, brings this and every Chicken Soup book to fruition, with unparalleled grace, expertise, and professionalism.

  Patty Hansen, for her thorough and competent handling of the legal and licensing aspects of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

  Laurie Hartman, for being a great guardian of the Chicken Soup brand.

  Veronica Romero, Lisa Williams, Teresa Collett, Robin Yerian, Jesse Ianniello, Lauren Edelstein, Lauren Bray, Patti Clement, Michelle Statti, Debbie Lefever, Connie Simoni, Karen Schoenfeld, Marty Robinson, Patti Coffey, Pat Burns, Kristi Waite, and Blake Arce, who support Jack’s and Mark’s businesses with skill and love.

  Meagan Romanello, Noelle Champagne, Jody Emme, Michelle Adams, Dee Dee Romanello, Shanna Vieyra, and Gina Romanello, who support Jack’s and Mark’s businesses with skill and love.

  Michele Matriscini, Carol Rosenberg, Andrea Gold, Allison Janse, Katheline St. Fort, our editors at Health Communications, Inc., for their devotion to excellence.

  Terry Burke, Tom Sand, Irena Xanthos, Lori Golden, Kelly Johnson Maragni, Christine Zambrano, Jaron Hunter, Patricia McConnell, Kim Weiss, Maria Dinoia, Paola Fernandez-Rana, the marketing, sales, and PR departments at Health Communications, Inc., for doing such an incredible job supporting our books.

  Tom Sand, Claude Choquette, and Luc Jutras, who manage year after year to get our books translated into thirty-six languages around the world.

  The Art Department at Health Communications, Inc., for their talent, creativity, and unrelenting patience in producing book covers and inside designs that capture the essence of Chicken Soup: Larissa Hise Henoch, Lawna Patterson Oldfield, Andrea Perrine Brower, Anthony Clausi, and Dawn Von Strolley Grove.

  All the Chicken Soup for the Soul coauthors, who make it so much of a joy to be part of this Chicken Soup family.

  Our glorious panel of readers who helped us make the final selections: Barbara Bartlein, Jill Bolte, Kathy Burghart, Edie Cuttler, Gloria Dahl, Jennifer Dale, Nancy Denke, Teri Detwiler, Berniece Duello, Michele Edlestein, Sally Kelly-Engleman, Terry Evans, Susan Goldberg, Jacqueline Gray Carrico, Laura-Jean Hawley, Karen Kishpaugh, Linda Leary, Mary McMahon, Mary Panosh, Sallie A. Rodman, Brandy Rogers, Christie Rogers, Cheryl Savel, Diane L. “Smitty” Smith, Betty Stockton, Cary Westerman, and Melissa Williams.

  And, most of all, everyone who submitted their heartfelt stories, poems, quotes, and cartoons for possible inclusion in this book. While we were not able to use everything you sent in, we know it all came from your hearts.

  Because of the size of this project, we may have left out the names of some people who contributed along the way. If so, we are sorry; please know we appreciate you very much.

  A special thanks to Amy Williams, who manages LeAnn’s speaking business while she writes . . . and writes . . . and writes.

  To Mark, LeAnn’s husband and business partner, without whom none of this would have been possible.

  And to LeAnn’s mother, Berniece, who gave LeAnn her nurse’s heart.

  And to God, for His divine guidance.

  Introduction

  Nearly 1 million nurses have been touched by the stories in the first edition of Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul. As a professional speaker, I am blessed to talk to tens of thousands of them. Over and over again they tell me how the stories bolstered them . . . how they read just the right story on just the right day, just when they needed it. Some nurses keep the book in their locker at work, others read it together at the beginning of shift report, still others keep it as a ready “reference” at the nurse’s desk.

  It is my hope that you will keep it handy at your bedside, or in your bathroom or break room (some days they’re the same thing!) and enjoy a dose of inspiration x1 daily and p.r.n. These stories of hope and healing will remind you why you entered this honorable profession . . . and why you stay. Let them fill you with hope and pride and strength to continue your courageous, compassionate caring.

  For every hand you’ve held, for every life you’ve touched, we thank you.

  With love and admiration,

  LeAnn Thieman

  Reprinted by permission of Mark Parisi and Off the Mark. ©2001 Mark Parisi.

  Share with Us

  We would love to hear your reactions to the stories in this book. Please let us know what your favorite stories were and how they affected you.

  We also invite you to send us stories you would like to see published in future editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Please send submissions to: www.chickensoup.com.

  Chicken Soup for the Soul

  P.O. Box 30880

  Santa Barbara, CA 93130

  fax: 805-563-2945

  We hope you enjoy reading this book as much as we enjoyed compiling and editing it.

  1

  DEFINING MOMENTS

  Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.

  Helen Keller

  Hope

  Appetite, with an opinion of attaining, is called hope; the same, without such opinion, despair.

  Thomas Hobbes

  “Good thing you got him here! Any longer and we would have had to remove part of his bowel. He has an inguinal hernia . . . if it had strangulated . . . ” I didn’t understand the medical jargon. The doctor was explaining my baby’s condition, but he might as well have been speaking French.

  Johnny was seven months old when he screamed uncontrollably, despite all my efforts to appease him. I knew something was seriously wrong. I bolted into the emergency department. The ER doctor examined him and the next thing I knew I was signing papers for emergency surgery.

  Fear numbed me as I inwardly prayed that Johnny would be okay. God was the only glimmer in my dismal life back then. At age twenty-three, I was struggling to support my three children. Our marriage was failing and we were separated. Again.

  I’d survived mostly on government assistance since the birth of my first child, who was four years old. I’d quit high school during my twelfth year and later obtained my GED. My work history was sketchy, but I longed to be financially stable. I prayed earnestly for direction.

  I spent as much time as I could with Johnny and I hated leaving him to be tended by strangers. While visiting, I noticed one of his care-providers was dressed in green while the rest wore the traditional white. I wanted to ask her why, but I was still dazed by everything and did not have the emotional energy for idle inquisitions.

  One day I watched as she busied herself taking Johnny’s temperature. My curiosity overwhelmed me. “Why are you wearing a green dress?”

  “I’m a nursing student,” she replied.

  “What school do you attend?” I continued, just making conversation. She told me all about a one-year federally funded program.

  “How do you become a part of this program?” I asked.

  The friendly student smiled eagerly. “Let me tell you about becoming a nurse.”

  With pride and enthusiasm she gave me a detailed account of what was necessary. I had never considered a nursing career, although since leaving high school, I thirsted for knowledge. As I listened to her, I felt the dying flame of hope rekindling. Could I do this?

  During the following weeks I completed the list of prerequisites she shared with me. Everything was coming together fine. Then I discovered that having your own transportation was a requirement. “But I don’t have a car,” I explained to the program director. They could only accept thirty-two students and they screened carefully trying to select those most likely to graduate. She studied my face in silence.

  “I will give you two months to get one,” she said hopefully.

  Yes! I thought while thanking God for victory. My heart fluttered with excitement. I was scheduled to begin classes in two months.

  “I’m going to be a nurse!” I proudly proclaimed to my family.

  Their laughter was biting.

  “Do you think you can be a nurse? You’ve never been around sick people.”

  “I can see you fainting at the firs
t sight of blood!” my mother added.

  When I’d quit school it was no surprise to them because no one in my family had ever graduated. They meant no harm, but their thoughtless cruelty fueled my determination to succeed. I’m going to finish nursing school if only to show them, I pledged to myself.