A walk down memory lane

I have slowly started the task of organizing my files to prepare for my departure. You don’t realize how much stuff you accumulate over 12 years! I have a lot of “special” things I have held onto throughout my years as CEO at Children’s Specialized Hospital.

Cleaning my office has been relatively easy since I am only doing a little at a time, but it has evoked a wave of memories and emotions.

So, what have I found?

I found pictures from my first Halloween at Children’s Specialized back in 2003 when Elaine Mustacchio (Nursing 3^rd floor, NB) loaned me an apron to wear when I dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Of course I had no trouble finding the red shoes piece – I have a plethora of them! But my favorite part of the memory was I got to see the real national holiday of Children’s Specialized Hospital at Halloween.

You probably wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I am fidgeter; I literally can’t sit still for too long. So in especially long meetings I bring toys with me. So in my cleaning, I found my “stash” of toys. I have soldiers, little men with smiley heads; I have hearts and squares that are pieced together, and lots of stretchy Gumby dolls.

Now to be honest, many of the soldiers have stretched out arms and some are headless because I pulled on them so much. But it was fun to find them and be reminded of how much fun we had playing with them.

One of the most special things I found in office was the pile of cards and notes that I have received from many of you over the years. It was such fun to reread them and to have my heart filled again with the warmth of being part of this special family.

So as we approach what will be my final 30, 60, or 90 days at Children’s Specialized Hospital (depending on the State approval), I will continue leisurely packing and cleaning my office, but please know how I cherish the memories I’ve had here and my time as a part of this special family.

So here is my ask for you guys.

If you have a funny or poignant memory with me from the last 12 years, please share it on the blog or email it to me. 

It would be a wonderful addition to all that have already been shared. 

Moments to relive

Sometimes, when I’m having “one of those days,” I like to reflect on some moments in my life where I felt like I was on top of the world. Those moments that put a stamp on your heart, and your memory, and always bring you back to what you were feeling on that day.

Today I want to share a few moments that really took my breath away or caused me such joy that I wish I could do them again.  And of course because you know me, there is a combination of work things and personal things. 

One of the first things that comes to mind was after my father’s surgery to remove his cancer-infested kidney. The morning after the surgery, I brought my mother to his hospital room. He looked up and said, “The doctor told me if I start walking, I could get out of here faster. We are going walking!” So, if you can imagine, my 80-year-old father was doing laps around the other oncology patients and circling the nurses’ station.

I tried to explain to him no one liked a show off and he might trip if he is not careful! Did he care? No way! He wanted to go home as soon as he could!

When the doctor came back the next day, he told him he had done 100 laps and he thought he should get to go home. The doctor looked at me and I said, “Welcome to my world!” In the end, the doctor told him he needed to stay for at least one more day. The look on his face was devastating but the moment was hysterical. This is the essence of my Dad—give him a task and get the heck out of the way!

Children’s Specialized Hospital had been nominated by NJBIZ in 2007 for being an outstanding company. The award ceremony was the same night as one of our Board meetings and all of Senior Staff was there. We knew we had made the top 25, but we didn’t know where we fell in the ranking.

So, there we all were. We had been 10th the year before and we were thinking we might move up one or two spots. But that wasn’t the case.  The announcement of the rankings began; they called 10th place, 9th place, etc, and we still weren’t called.

As we reached the final honorees it was clear we would be named either first or second. When they announced that we were the Hospital of the Year I remember the elation. Not that it was going to change the course of anyone’s life, but we were all so excited and so proud to be together and working together. I can still feel the excitement in my belly. It was a great moment!

Lastly, I am taken back to Alabama. In graduate school I was hired by a big executive of a paper company to dog and house sit for them while he and his family traveled. They had a chocolate lab and I fell in love with her.

When they bred her, I asked to buy one of the chocolate females. She gave birth to 11 pups—5 chocolate, 6 yellow. Four of the chocolate puppies were males and only one was female, also the runt of the litter. I thought it was destiny! There were no ifs, ands, or buts—she was mine.

She lived for 15 years, getting me through a marriage and a divorce. She was my last dog (so far), because it was just too hard to say goodbye to her. I’ll never forget that first moment when I saw her, all by herself when the others were trying to nurse from their mom. We connected; she was mine.

I’m sure we all have a few moments that have left huge impressions on our lives. Please share one of your memorable moments in the comments below!