Medical Home

 As a nurse of  over 30 years, I have gotten really good at triage and tough conversations. 

Triage is an art form as much as a science

Sending a kid to the ER because she didn't look right after falling off her bike- she had sweat on her upper lip... something was wrong, but what? She had a pneumothorax.

A step mom told  her step son's arm wasn't broken after a fall, but she took him for an x-ray just in case. It wasn't broken

Having the advanced directives conversation with a family and telling them they should think about what they want to do if  the worst comes... figuring out what they need to do or not do so that if their child 

Sending a kid to a MOHs surgeon after an EB parent described over the phone that a wound on a foot that just didn't look right and it is Squamous Cell Carcinoma...

Telling a mom that when her beloved child threatens to kill herself, that mom cannot be the one to try and figure out if the child is serious or not. It has to be a professional. Because mom's can be wrong and if anything bad happened she would never forgive herself.

You learn what is common.

You learn what is likely.

And sometimes you have to be very direct...

Telling your cousin who doesn't want to take HTN meds that were newly prescribed that it beats having a stroke...

Telling you parent that "not being a good surgical candidate" is not the same thing as not needing heart surgery...

Telling your child you don't care if they feel fine, they passed out and hit their head and need to get checked out, like it or not...

All par for the course.

But when it is serious,  it really sucks.

Being the first one to use the word "Autism"...

Being the one to say "It's stage 4"...

Being the one to say "Put down that it is a terminal illness..."

Telling the truth when asked, what is the worst case scenario?

But you have to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

Even when it sucks.

Staycation Movies

I recently stayed with a family member after they had surgery, but they did so well that we spent most of the time watching movies. It was a mix of movies I haven't seen in a while, along with movies I never saw way back when they came out, with a few newer films added to the mix. There were comedies and dramas, Oscar winners and silly fun. The list in no particular order is:

80 for Brady stars Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Sally Field. It is a light story and weirdly, it’s based on a true story. It was silly and funny and brings a new light to the Patriot comeback in 2017. Oh, and Brady is in it.  ANd if you like it, check out Book Club.

Public Enemies, based on John Dillinger's life, stars Johnny Depp. After showing up law enforcement, Dillinger is hunted and killed. 

Last King of Scotland is a fictional story set during Idi Amin's regime in Uganda in the 1970s. Forest Whitaker is brilliant at playing the Ugandan leader and James McAvoy plays a young naive doctor who takes on the role of his personal physician. The movie portrays a leader unraveling. It culminates with the June 27, 1976 Air France Flight 139 hijacking to Entebbe Airport in Uganda- where the real-life Amin had his soldiers support the hijackers. Our doctor escapes with the non-Jewish/non-Israeli passengers who were released. An after-credit notes that the Israelis raided and freed most of the remaining passengers, but that is a different movie.

Tommy Boy- do yeah, I know how old this movie is, and until this vacation, I had never seen it. And apparently, I am the only person in my part of the world who hasn’t. It stars Chris Farley and David Spade and Spade is in charge of keeping Chris Farley on the straight and narrow while they try to save the company Farley inherits. Rob Lowe is a surprise (to me) as the evil “step-brother” who is actually step-mom’s boy toy.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was a story I fell in love with when I saw the trailer an age ago. I had watched it once on my own and had to share it- because it is an absolute delight! The surprise in this one is Lucius Malfoy (yeah I should know the actor’s name) as a truly good guy.

A Man named Otto- Oh My God! I laughed, I cried and not just a little.

 Catch Me if You Can- always worth watching again!

Black Sheep stars Chris Farley and David Spade and   Spade is in charge of keeping Chris Farley on the straight and narrow. Sound familiar?

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure- Who could have seen where Keanu Reeves would go from here? Still love after all these years

Philadelphia- still so brutal, just like AIDS.

Commercial-free Spotify

 My son has gifted me commercial free Spotify and it might be the greatest experience ever. Don't get me wrong, I loved my iPod, but Apple really screwed me with that- killing iTunes as I knew it after I uploaded hundreds of CDs... bad form.

And now... music heaven- I have found all the music I have looked for (save one song on one album- seems an odd omission but what can you do!)

I love listening to the songs from every decade of my life. Songs I danced to, songs I cried to, songs of pure joy and celebration. It is a long way from me at twelve recording my favorite songs on my tape recorder straight from the radio- always missing the first bar or so... 

Our first stereo had an eight track tape player. Our car had only AM radio. I lived thru the Walkman, 45s, cassettes, 12 inch dance records, CDs, iPods and this has to be the closest thing to musical heaven... until the next innovation. 

Thanks, John. You were right!

Twelve years on...

 My last real relationship ended twelve years ago today. It occurred to me when I was writing the date today. And in so many ways I am doing so much better that that poor broken girl who had her heart broken. She could not have been convinced at the time that it was just a blip on the radar to a better life.

So many adventures since then, so many changes. 

I have so many things to be thankful for...

So many people to be thankful for...

I am surrounded by love.

And so grateful.

Paddy's isn't going anywhere

It is a great day when you go to a place to say goodbye and find out your place isn't going anywhere. A good time was had by all.

 

Saying goodbye to Ashley

 Always young, always beautiful. The love of my nephew's life. Rest in peace.

Aunt Irene

My aunt Irene died today and I am heartbroken. She is no longer in pain, no longer suffering. My sadness comes from the fact that I can't be there to say goodbye in person. 

I love you.