Looking Up

Recently, my good friend Dodi reminded herself (and all of us friends on Facebook) that sometimes you just have to "look up".
But I have to confess, this Fall, it has been hard for me to consistently "look up". I've been feeling down. Watching my friend Judy and her family work through the realities of her diagnosis has been at times almost impossible to watch. My nurse brain has focused on the realities of her situation.
During the work week, I keep myself busy and distracted. It's easy to do...one never knows when this might march past your door....

The days are usually so busy I don't have time to let my mind wander to the worries waiting at home. And when I do feel down, well kids like this one

, have a magical way of lifting my spirits.
It's the weekends that get long. But, now here we are in the middle of Fall Break. We're getting ready to experience our first big snow of the season (no pictures, it's still pitch dark outside). And I am reminding myself of Dodi's words of wisdom to look up...
This past weekend, I looked up and out from my scrapbook table and here is the view that greeted me...

Pretty special, don't you think?

Yesterday, I looked up and was greeted by these two people....

For 4 hours, Judy and I chatted....we talked about everything under the sun.

When I looked up, I saw my nurse brain worries melt away (not an easy task when I'm sitting in a great room filled with 20+ chemo chairs, all full on a Tuesday afternoon)....
When I looked up, I saw my friends....determined to take down this beast of a cancer that has invaded Judy's body.
If they can continue to look up and forward.....I too can also keep on trying!

Go Judy Go!

Late night ramblings...

Back to School...circa 2004

It's back to school for me...registration week. Time to crank up the blog with new school nurse stories.

Let's start the year off with a sweet story....An upside to working at the neighborhood school, is seeing the neighbor kids. Well, so far it has been an upside. I suppose I'll change my tune when or if I see them in a troubling situation. But so far, the neighbor kids have been friendly and happy to see a familiar face. Yesterday, a young girl that I've known since she was in 2nd grade was checking in. She's now a sophomore in high school. I spotted her talking to b.o.y.s. So I teased her "I'm gonna tell your mom". You see, my job is one part nurse-one part mama. She replied, smiling as she said "It's ok, Nurse Martha, they are Mormon boys". (see, I love working with this age group, they get my attempts at humor)

It's been good to be back at work this week. Keeping the hands busy so the mind doesn't wander. When my phone rang mid-day today, I was jolted out of my zone of working with some rather unsettling news. Judy's surgery did not go as planned and the situation has taken a new turn...not for the better.

I shall follow my son's recommendations (the wisdom of an almost 12 year old)...He told me "Mom, don't think of the sadness, if you can't just not think of it, then at least just think of the happy times with Miss Judy".

when did that boy grow up and how did he get to be so wise?

So tonight, I head off to bed...remembering and reflecting on all the Happy times we've spent with our favorite couple....Eric and Judy...and wishing them peace and courage to face the challenges presented today.

Preparing for Battle...Lish Style

Last night, we gathered with friends to wish Judy well as she heads off to battle. On Thursday, surgeons will spend 10-12 hrs tackling the cancerous beast that has invaded her body. The surgeons will remove all that they can, and finish it up with a series of hot chemo infusions applied directly to the stomach...a "shake and bake" approach to battling cancer.

It is not a surgery for the faint of heart or weak in spirit. So, what better way to rally support than to have a party...to wish Judy well and to show her family (Hubby Eric and 2 of the 3 girls were there) that there is a whole community behind them.

Thank you Patty C. for opening up your home and heart to this gathering of friends of the Lishes...You and Jack really know how to host a perfect party...even when the reason for the gathering is so very bittersweet!
Donna, my trusted side kick on this journey of support(pictured here with Lish Lady #2, who yes, is legally old enough now to hold that glass of red wine)...Donna and I both work in the medical field....it has placed us in a challenging spot...we know the medical realities....
And yet last night, we set those realities aside and embraced the Lish Factor....through laughter and love, you can face any challenge thrown in your path! (that's our Mr. E, hamming it up for the camera)
So to you my friend....remember the words of Jeremiah 30:17

"I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the Lord"...

Strike Up the Band!

Thursday afternoon I stopped by Judy's place under the pretense to see how she was doing post-chemo. We visited for a bit and then lo and behold...we hear music...band music!

It really is just like living in a small town....my friend Judy is the band mom for the school where I work. When I shared her news with the people at work, they immediately started to plot this surprise. The timing was perfect and the sounds of their music...made us all forget the worries of the day if just for a moment or two.

Thank you Mr. M. and the marching Raptors!