Godstoppedby

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

PENTHOUSE LIVING

We're living on the 18th floor. It's not really the penthouse because there is a floor above us, but we're high up and receiving most excellent care, so to us, it's the Stony Brook penthouse suite.
Adam has a private room because of his many needs, the most pressing being his anxiety. To help him function as well as he can, he needs the least amount of stimulus possible. So a private room is perfect, because when Adam is in the hospital, I am too. I don't go home because he can never be left alone. Ever.

We don't want private duty nursing care, and we have learned from so many lengthy stays that you never know when the doctors are going to come in, and you don't want to miss them when they do. They're extremely busy and if you miss one, it can take many hours to connect again.

Adam is a happy and very friendly person. He greets everyone who passes by his room if the door is open, and waves and smiles at the ones he knows. After a few days, he becomes very popular. His nurses, aides, housekeepers, and all the staff grow to love him very quickly. Even when it isn't their turn to work with  him, they often stop by to say hi or to visit for a few minutes. This goes a long way to relieving the boredom of an extended stay. This is such a blessing to him and to us. Everyone is friendly and kind and patient.

The eighteenth floor is dedicated to excellence in patient care, and it shows. The staff all work well together and help each other all the time. It's great to see nurses who aren't working with Adam come and help the one who is when there is something difficult going on. Like starting a new i.v. line. They don't hesitate to ask someone else when they can't get a line started. And the ones who are asked don't hesitate to come and help the best that they can. Sometimes their best is saying that they know they can't get it either. I appreciate this so much. It saves me from always having to challenge them and let them know they get one try. You miss, you're done.

Our church, The Mosaic Vineyard, believes that every life should be celebrated. No one should just be tolerated. Every life has great value and gifting to share, gifting to be discovered. We believe in honoring everyone. To love well means to respect and value each one that comes into our lives. The people who work here on the eighteenth floor seem to understand this very well. We're so very thankful for them.