I am very fortunate as an L&D Nurse. I get an opportunity shared by a select few to welcome choice Spirits, directely from Heavenly Father's hands, to the hands of thier earthly parents. Every once-in-a-while, we grieve with our families for the loss of a little one. Our heart aches as these families go home to a nursery missing a vital part of their family. My heart aches as I walk onto my L&D Unit to a unit that is now missing a vital part of our family - our nurse manager. Over the past week, there has been a heaviness on our L&D Unit at Southern Hills. Our beloved nurse manager, Diane Williams & her husband Brooks, died tragically in an airplane crash in Kremmling, Colorado. Many of us, including Diane & Brooks, had spent a wonderful Saturday night before that at a co-worker's wedding reception. We all came back to work and carried on as usual. Thursday morning I arrived at work and had to transport a patient to another facility. A few management issues arose and when I brought them to Diane's attention, she acknowledged me & the problem at hand and said she would address it. She assured me that I did everything I could but would research it and get back to me. Diane had come back to me later that day to let me know that I did a great job. There was nothing else that I could have done & what a great nurse I was. We were very busy Thursday (September 18th) and few of us noticed Diane was gone. I went home to celebrate my "5th" anniversary with my sweetheart, Tor. Friday morning I had off. I rarely have Fridays off, however, another co-worker asked if I could switch so she could spend a day with her son who was coming in from out of town. I was in a parent teacher conference (don't worry - just setting ground work for my high schooler's teachers), when I got a disturbing call. A dear co-worker had called & was crying. She left me a voice message requesting I call the Unit immediately. When I returned the call, I was told that Diane, Brooks & the 2 family dogs were killed in a plane accident Thursday night. The 3 girls were safe, here in Vegas. My first reaction was disbelief. Diane just celebrated her 51st b-day. She had beaten breast cancer several years prior.
Grieving is a process that is individual. Some of us cry publically, some in private. Some of us are angry, some are in shock. Some of us remain quite numb as if not to believe that she is gone. Many of us have known Diane for many years & we can distinguish her footsteps in the hallway. Which, by the way, is a good piece of knowledge when you are eating at the nurses station and you are not supposed to. We recently heard a hospital employee walking down the hallway in high-heels with the same walk as Diane and we turn around to expect to see her, and she is not there. But she is there. Diane is with us in spirit in the unity she formed as she opened our L&D Unit. She chose most of us from the beginning because we represented the values she wanted instilled in her Unit. She is in our hearts as we make decisions in caring for our patients & each of us as nurses as we care for each other. Diane shared with us an enormous amount of her knowledge. She cared for each of us and each patient that walked through our hallways. She had a way of letting you know what you did incorrectly, but quickly turned it around and focused on the positive things you were doing. She was an incredible example of what an effective manager should be.
Today we gathered with many of Diane & Brook's family, friends, neighbors, co-workers - one big connected family. Connected through our friendship with Diane & Brooks - a connection we will carry until we meet again. I saw friends that I hadn't seen in years - friends who I love dearly but as life has gotten busy & focuses rearranged, have been put on the back burner. They have never been forgotten. For all those of you who I reconnected with, I love you dearly. I am grateful our friendship surpases time and we can pick up where we left off.
I am so thankful for my knowledge that I will live again, that I will see my family and friends as I journey from this life to the next and find such reassurance in knowing that my Father in Heaven loves me enough to have sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross on my behalf - to take up all my shortcomings & sins so that I will live again, with my family, in the presence of my dear Father & my Savior. Families are forever. What a comfort. A young lady sang "How Great Thou Art" at the closing. I think that was the first time I was truly emotional during the funeral. Yes, sad for Diane & Brooks girls but oh how grateful I am and how full my heart is - "How Great Thou Art"
Enough of the heaviness. . .
Grieving is a process that is individual. Some of us cry publically, some in private. Some of us are angry, some are in shock. Some of us remain quite numb as if not to believe that she is gone. Many of us have known Diane for many years & we can distinguish her footsteps in the hallway. Which, by the way, is a good piece of knowledge when you are eating at the nurses station and you are not supposed to. We recently heard a hospital employee walking down the hallway in high-heels with the same walk as Diane and we turn around to expect to see her, and she is not there. But she is there. Diane is with us in spirit in the unity she formed as she opened our L&D Unit. She chose most of us from the beginning because we represented the values she wanted instilled in her Unit. She is in our hearts as we make decisions in caring for our patients & each of us as nurses as we care for each other. Diane shared with us an enormous amount of her knowledge. She cared for each of us and each patient that walked through our hallways. She had a way of letting you know what you did incorrectly, but quickly turned it around and focused on the positive things you were doing. She was an incredible example of what an effective manager should be.
Today we gathered with many of Diane & Brook's family, friends, neighbors, co-workers - one big connected family. Connected through our friendship with Diane & Brooks - a connection we will carry until we meet again. I saw friends that I hadn't seen in years - friends who I love dearly but as life has gotten busy & focuses rearranged, have been put on the back burner. They have never been forgotten. For all those of you who I reconnected with, I love you dearly. I am grateful our friendship surpases time and we can pick up where we left off.
I am so thankful for my knowledge that I will live again, that I will see my family and friends as I journey from this life to the next and find such reassurance in knowing that my Father in Heaven loves me enough to have sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross on my behalf - to take up all my shortcomings & sins so that I will live again, with my family, in the presence of my dear Father & my Savior. Families are forever. What a comfort. A young lady sang "How Great Thou Art" at the closing. I think that was the first time I was truly emotional during the funeral. Yes, sad for Diane & Brooks girls but oh how grateful I am and how full my heart is - "How Great Thou Art"
Enough of the heaviness. . .
1 comment:
Tammy, my thoughts are with you, it's never easy to say goodbye to someone even when you know you'll see them again, there are just too many holes left in their absence. My heart goes out to her family.
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