Clive'

This is Clive', or CJ as his friends and family know him.  CJ is one of those very special patients that will not be forgotten, and deserve serious mention. 

He came to our unit (CICU) and is being worked up for a few issues. CJ is legally blind... and very VERY shy. He is 19 years old. To say that the past several years of his life have been hard would really be an understatement.

But look at this smile. That smile only peeked out a few times, but with this smile, CJ could move mountains. I really hope that he one day sees himself in the same sort of lovely light that we saw in him. He was very worried about pain, and felt scared. I was there when he got his PICC and thereby was able to see just what a lovely young man he is.

Yesterday was Easter. CJ had no family to visit him. I had some easter candy I was going to offer up for the night shift, I decided (knowing that I might be in trouble, but oh well...)  to make him an Easter Basket. I was lucky enough to find a basket that suited in our cabinets, and proceeded to fill it with as many goodies as I could find. I carried it over to CVC and presented it to CJ. Now, imagine that smile with the light of lots of candy...chocolate...jelly beans....! That hug he gave me made up for all those exhausting nights working, those back to backs that made my head pound. Thank you CJ...for making my last day as a Tech one of my best days.

So, I will look at CJ's picture in the coming months, and this will help me remember why I am walking down my path. Because it's this smile that makes everything worth it.

Okay- that's me, but...she LOVED her hair!

and here are a few of the other patients that have touched my heart....

He wanted one last picture. He did not last the night. A Lovely man, who was glad to join his wife....

He eventually did not make it, but they fought the long fight- together. When this picture was taken, they had been married about 8 months.

Pretty sure this was the cutest most loving family ever. He spent a lot of time laughing...

Mr. M did make it home, or to rehab. This is his wife, Sheryl with him.  She loves him SOOOO much....

I don't think anything needs to be said about Ryan. He is a star in every sense of the word. This is 8 days post heart transplant.

This is also another patient past txp. He was amazing and strong thru out everything. One of those who don't say much but then when they do say something, you realize exactly what a difference you can make. It also is a good reminder that vented patients can and do remember things sometimes. 

And, for full disclosure, every one of these patients knew I was taking their picture and I sent them the pictures for them to have. They also knew that I might put them in my blog....