From practitioner to parent of a patient

Seems I always start a post with a statement of how long it has been since I have managed to write or how busy life tends to become. It seems I blink, and time just flies past—between school projects, spring sports, a big inspection at work and training for a half marathon, there is barely time to breathe some days.

But summer is just around the corner and, thanks to a fluke episode, my boy is ensuring that we will slow down over the school break. He just turned 9 and is an active, typical little boy—playing baseball and riding his bike over any jump he can find. A few weeks ago, he had what appeared to be a minor viral illness but then suffered what is now being termed a fainting episode. Because it mimicked seizure activity, off to the ER we went.

A routine ECG turned up some thickening of the right side of his heart, so we saw a cardiologist a few days later. A long afternoon spent in the cardiologist’s office ended up in a surprise diagnosis of two congenital heart defects that could result in significant damage if we don’t repair them. Needless to say, I was in shock and still am two weeks later. My healthy, typically wild but extremely kind-hearted boy is shunting oxygenated blood back into his right heart with every beat!

Yes, we are getting a second opinion in a week but, because I have confidence in the diagnosis, the surgery is scheduled for the middle of June—a week after school ends. He will spend the summer being spoiled rotten, and the goal is to be back in school when it starts in mid-August. The cardiologist even said we could sign up for fall baseball. I think he is as optimistic as I am about all this, something I really appreciate.

In the meantime, my son has no activity restrictions, so we are pressing on with life. We fill our free time with baseball and soccer, bike rides and yard work, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. We have tickets to see the Rapids and the Rockies and hope to throw a big presurgery party in June. I firmly believe attitude can affect outcome, and we will enter this with the best attitudes we can muster! I will do my best to keep this site updated with our progress on this new adventure in life and know we are wrapped in prayer every day by so many people, something I am very thankful for and believe is contributing to my calm emotions.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

Buckle up!

To quote the much-missed Jerry Garcia, “What a long, strange trip it’s been!”

The roller coaster that I call life is still going full speed, with the occasional quick turn and corkscrew thrown in (just to keep me on my toes, I think). In the last month, we moved into our new place, Mom arrived for the summer and I spent a week at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) conference in Vegas. Throw in the last weeks of school and all the programs, typical summer turnover and staffing woes and the day-to-day of sporting events, and I sometimes forget to breathe!

First, the house. It is fantastic! The choice was the right one. The size is great, things are fitting into their places and the cul-de-sac is fantastic! Great neighbors and other kids, as good or better than I had hoped for. The landscaping is moving along, and we should have a back yard within the week. I spent lots of spare time looking for plants to create the low maintenance but enjoyable backyard space it needs to be, and I think we have achieved that.

Now, Mom. What would I do without such great parents?! Both my folks arrived shortly after school ended, then dad returned home after a week. He left mom and her car here to get me though the summer, which is so fantastic! The kids can hang out with friends, go to the pool, attend Vacation Bible School and sports camps, and just relax without going to all-day care, while I rush off to work. And Mom gets to beat the Arizona heat for the summer, which I think she enjoys as well. The three of us as so happy to have her here!

Now, the conference. What a great week! I saw some old friends, both Air Force contacts and friends from graduate school. The lectures were interesting, the Venetian Resort was HUGE—anyone else still getting lost the last day?—and the evenings entertaining. There were some drawbacks to such a large attendance and some things missing I had enjoyed in years past but, all in all, I gleaned some new concepts and ideas to implement in practice.

Since returning to the clinic this last week, there were several times I had to stop and think about lectures I had attended and how to use that new information in practice. I took in the four-hour ECG lecture and, when I did a 12-lead this week, was able to quickly assess for axis deviation and bundle branch blocks. Yes, prior to this I considered them but, after the lecture, they actually made sense!

I have also been working harder to match depression symptoms to medications, considering more dopamine stimulation for those who need it. What I wish I knew more about are herbals, supplements and vitamins. I heard a bit about this, but there does seem to be a connection between some deficiencies and depression, headaches and many other things. It would be nice to be able to support this as an early or additional option for patients. Maybe, a good idea for my next conference choice?

So, summer is off to a roaring start. I am looking forward to some afternoons at the pool, a vacation in August and maybe getting the pictures hung. Oh, and soccer camp, sleepovers, baseball games and can’t forget work. There goes the roller coaster again. Guess I better strap in for the ride!

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.