Sister Nurses

I am so grateful to be a nurse. I am so grateful Lori became a nurse. I can't even explain how happy I was for her when she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 2009. She graduated at the top of her class. She was one of the best nurses I have ever seen.  She worked the day shift and I worked the night shift. Each time she gave me report on a patient she would take me to the room to introduce me as their nurse and her sister. She was always so proud to introduce me as her sister. She would have this gigantic smile on her face and tell them that they had the best nurse. She would then hug all the family visiting and then hug her patient goodbye and kiss their forehead. I would leave the room feeling very inadequate because I definitely was not going to kiss my patients, I'm a little more or a lot more reserved than Lori. That is what made Lori so special though. She was so childlike, no inhibitions. She loved whole heartedly and treated her patients like she knew them her whole life and they were family. She would pray with them if they were scared, she would sing to them to calm them down, she would do a "happy dance" to make an angry patient laugh. She was like a puppy, so full of life. There really isn't a way to describe what she was like, but anyone who knows her and especially those who had the pleasure of working with her knows what I am talking about.

Since she passed away, each time I go to work I feel her with me. I put a picture of her on the back of my badge right next to my heart. Each room I walk in I feel like she is with me. I have always tried to be the best I can be, but I truly feel Lori's influence and treat each patient like they are family. It is extra nice working with newborn babies because Lori LOVED babies. When we would go to church together she would always be the first to help a mom out with her baby. I hope she gets to hold lots of babies in heaven.

When I was at work Friday night I had a patient call me into her room. Her mother was in the room and they gave me a little gift and thanked me for all I had done. She told me I was so happy, quick with answering calls and had taken such good care of her and her baby. It made me tear up and I showed her the picture of my sister on my badge and said that she had 2 nurses caring for her that evening. I've never done that before, but I felt inspired to and she reiterated how appreciative she was of all I did.  It felt so good to make a difference. I know Lori never left. She is still present in our lives. I feel her daily, and while I know she is busy helping others learn the "happy dance", I am grateful she has time to help me be the best I can be.

Lori,

Thank you for being an example to your big sister. Thank you for showing me how to be a better mother, friend, person, and nurse. Every shift I work, we work together. You always said you look up to me, but now I look up to you. I love you.

Kelly