Dead to us now

1. The last hurrah 

Five long weeks after putting in my notice, I finally completed my last day at CRCC.  My job has frequently made appearances on this blog in the past three years because my job at the Cancer Center has been absolutely wonderful.  It's hard for me to put into words how grateful that I am that I was working here when life happened.  To say that I am going to miss my friends, coworkers, patients....that would be an understatement.  My life literally changed with these ladies by my side.    Knowing that I could come to work and life would be easy for a few hours -- made life a bit easier.  This probably doesn't make sense to most.  I worked at one of the most emotionally taxing places possible -- but still having great coworkers and friends by your side -- the hours are fun, easy and the most part they are enjoyable.  I would not hesitate to go back to CRCC-E and work there again. I am excited and nervous for my new job on Monday but oh so grateful for the support and love from my friends.

2. The after party
After a great day at work a few of us headed over to Shelby's for dinner and drinks.  I am going to miss sitting down with these ladies on a daily basis.  It will be strange to "catch up" on life at an arranged get together.  Happy that we were able to spend a few extra hours celebrating Friday night!

3. Grateful patients
The past few weeks I have started to tell most of the patients that I was leaving so Friday was filled with good-byes and well wishes.  It was a day filled with people telling me how much they loved working with me and that they were grateful that I was their nurse.  It was heartwarming and extremely appreciated.  It is the kind of nursing that new, baby nurses dream about.  I will admit, going to a job without much direct patient care and without long term relationships is going to be STRANGE.  I am not sure how my soul will do without this piece of nursing that I love.  Grateful to the hundreds of patients who have changed my life these past few years.

4. JH
So I decided that I needed to tell a quick story.  This is ONE example about how the patients that I served at East are top notch AND continually teach me to be a better me.

I was at work when Dr. Goulet came down to notify me of my mother's pathology.  He pulled me into a room and gave me the update.  That was a hard day.

One of our new patient's (who got treated every day) noticed that I was a bit off.  She knew of my mom's surgery and that we were waiting on news.  From that day on she SHOWED more love on me than I could even imagine.  A few weeks later when my sister was in an accident and at Methodist JH found out (because at CRCC-E we are family).  She decided that night to come to the hospital with her hands filled with pizza and she just wanted to pray with us and for us.  When Erin passed away JH and her family (along with a few other patients) came to the viewing and funeral.  She gave both my mom and I tokens of love.  My sister was even buried in a breast cancer bracelet that she made for all three of us ladies.

JH went out of her way -- above and beyond -- to show me love.  She 100% changed the way that I try and love on people and BE THERE for them.  How to truly care for others.  Sadly,  JH passed away within 2 months of Erin.  She did all of this for us -- when she was dying.

 
5. Taylor's Bakery & Moes
My last day at work consisted lots of calories.  I stopped at Taylor's in the morning to bring donuts for the team and then Tracey requested Moe's for lunch since I have an obsession with Nacho's and queso.  It did not disappoint.

6. Nervous, Excited, anxious....all the feels
I have started getting lots of emails for my new position.  It's making me both excited and anxious.  I am really ready to start learning something new but the evening/night shift is starting to make me pretty anxious at the same time.  This new journey is going to be an interesting one!!