Pride and Joy

Last weekend, I traveled back to college for the Alabama LSU football game. It seems like a lifetime ago since 1987, when I left Tuscaloosa Alabama. Coming back 25 plus years later, I was asked a lot about each of you and the work that we do. Every time I spoke about the opportunity we have been given to care for these amazing children, they saw the sparkle in my eye and the pride of being let into families lives when they need us most. 

I told the story about our patient who literally asked a Congressman after his visit "where's the cash?" Because I had told her he was giving us money after he read us a story. Or the look on the face of a young man after he rode a horse for the first time after suffering a TBI, or watching graduates of Friday Night Fever taking on the role of leader or the many times we stood together at viewings and funerals to grieve the loss of a colleague or their loss of a loved one. Each and every story showed the love in my heart and the privilege I feel in being part of this organization.

I often receive little notes, or emails, or are stopped in the hallway by many of you telling me stories about how working at Children’s Specialized has truly changed your life for the better. We often share inspirational stories about our patient success, I thought I might ask each of you to share your stories about the children and families you have worked with or even your colleagues who you have seen extend themselves.  Our “average length of stay” here with our staff is not that average.  Our staff tends to stick around, and for good reason!  I’m sure you all have some great stories. 

Let’s hear about making life long friends or even finding love here at work; or how you grew your career here – starting in dietary and moving up to nurse manager? How about a personal story about how employees truly supported you during a crisis?  Superstorm Sandy is a great example of how we rallied around each other.

The joy of telling our story over and over last weekend brought me such joy; I thought I would create the opportunity for each of you to share the great things that happen here, with our employees!

Humbled

Humbled - is the word that continues to be in the forefront of my mind lately. In DC last week, I was humbled watching a family who has created a "typical" life for a child who requires so much medical care and attention. Their entire family’s life decisions center around Lily's care and how to make sure they create a full family with their 3 younger children and include Lily where no one feels she is different, but everyone understands that sacrifices have to be made to make sure she has a full life.

Humbled is what I felt when I learned that one of our therapist had been named the sponsor for one of our patient’s first communion. The bond was so strong that she would ask her therapist to go through this momentous occasion with her and will remain connected to her for her entire life.

Humbled when I saw the photos of a patient and her family that were invited to a therapist’s wedding shower because they have become so close.

Some have heard me say that I have the best job in the world. We get to do amazing work each and every day - being invited into families’ lives to try and make it all better. Or sometimes just to make sense of what is there. And we have assembled a team of people who are both highly talented and are selfless, compassionate souls who will do anything to help a child reach their full potential.

People spend their whole lives looking for what we sometimes take for granted, a company with heart.

Now does this mean we are perfect? No. We all can be better and we need to be for our kids. But every once in a while it helps to take a step back and be humbled by the work we do and the people we get to do it with.

Humbled and proud....