Notes and stuff from work....

Had two women in one night the week before I left for Africa, both with bi-lateral mastectomies. The one woman who was in her 80's had her surgery the year before I was born. She had two 5 inch lines almost diagonal across the area where your breasts should be. That's how they did it then. And she had me hysterical because as I was placing her clothes in a bag for her to go to her room, she said "Don't loose my boobs, they are in that pile". I just started laughing and said, I got them, they are safely in the bag! She was very nice and not nearly as sick as the other lady. The second women was not even 40, she had reconstructive surgery so not only did she have her breasts removed, she had a huge scar across her whole abdomen about bikini line where they went in and took the muscle and some tissue for the reconstruction. She was also still undergoing chemo and barely strong enough to lift her bottom to get on the bed pan. She didn't have nipples as they were removed and will be tattooed on at another stage in the reconstructive process. Two very different surgeries, two very different people..... With one common connection. Something most everyone knows is close to my heart. I was very very touched by the younger lady, she just said to me 'I'd like to go into a deep sleep and wake in January when my treatments are all over'. I can see why. I can also see why people give up. She wasn't and although the cancer and it's treatments were taking a toll on her and she had every rite to be a nasty woman (mad at the world) she wasn't she simply wanted someone to help her feel better. And that was me. And all I can hope is that the little bit of help, comfort and attention I was able to give her was just another little bit to help her keep going. She is someone I won't forget.

Haven't had any other super good stories in a while, but give me time I am sure I WILL!

The funny thing about kids is

(I wrote this before I left for Africa but forgot to post it damn it!)
They can do the craziest things. Including pulling off a cast which is exactly what little man did on my trip down to NC for Halloween. In the mean time, here is a picture of us at his school for his Halloween party (with his NEW cast on)

And a picture of us when we got dressed up for Trick-or-Treating. He was a fireman, I of course....Was a nurse!! And we both had to have glow necklaces on.
Last month must have been my love from the nieces and nephews month cause little man said "I want to move to MD so I can see my Aunt Bethy all the time".

Kayla managed to write a little story about me as 'Who my favorite relative is".

Where to start

uhm, there will be SEVERAL posts in the next few days as I recount the last 6 weeks of my life......Considering if most of you hadn't talked to or seen me you'd probably think I was dead!

In any case, I apologize I've just been busy as hell. I need to reference the Palm pilot to see exactly what I've been doing. And to top it all off............Tuesday mom and I leave for AFRICA.......So the next few days are gonna be crazy too! I'll do my best and that's that!