On July 8th I had been a nurse for 11 years. I had always wanted to be a nurse but got married and had my kids and was very happy being their mom. But then we got divorced and I had to find a way to support my family. My mom asked me a question. What did you always want to be? I told her I always wanted to be a nurse. She encouraged me to go for it. I applied to UTSA to get the pre-requisites just to make her be quiet because I "knew" they'd never accept me. I was too old. But low and behold they did accept me and took all of my college hours that I had gotten right out of high school. They only asked that I refresh my sciences because I hadn't been to school in over 20 years and things had changed. So that got the ball rolling. I went to Baptist Professional School of Nursing in San Antonio, TX and graduated in 2002. My favorite things to do are knitting, going to garage sales and auctions, and fixing things up to resale at our booths in an antique mall in Seguin. I don't have much down time right now with my full-time job, the antique mall and going back to school to pursue my BSN. I only have 3 more classes to complete and will be finished in February 2014.

I saw the supervisor job as a way to be the voice of my unit, make changes for the better for all of us, and most importantly to be an advocate for our patients. The reason I helped this patient had several levels. I was there and helped to admit her. I saw what horrible physical and emotional shape she was in. We started to build a relationship and she started to trust me and tell me things about herself and her family. One day she admired the necklace I was wearing and told me that everything she ever owned was gone and she didn't know how she was going to start over. I reached around my neck and took my necklace off and put it around her neck. It made her so happy.

As she progressed both physically and emotionally and began to participate in PT more and more I realized that she really did not have anything. No clothes to wear. She was a very petite lady and the hospital gowns were very long on her almost touching the floor and could trip her. I was in Walmart one day and saw in the clearance aisle all of these clothes that were between $3 and $5 and thought of her immediately and that I could outfit her very inexpensively. I knew we had a washer and dryer in the basement and the clothes could be washed so I purchased them for her. I got pajamas, a robe, underwear and socks, the basic essentials.

As she progressed more and more I saw that she was walking around the hospital with just the no-skid socks. She didn't have any shoes. So I got with Nicole with the PT department and asked exactly what kind of shoes she needed and went shopping and got them for her. I really had no idea anyone on staff except for Danica and Nicole even knew what I had been doing. I was taught all of my life to give. It says in the Bible that God loves a cheerful giver and I am one. It makes me very happy and fulfilled to help someone in need. It's a family tradition at my house to help those in need. We are always looking for the next opportunity that God will give us to be His ministers here on earth.

by Denise George

In addition to this, I know that Denise even bought things for the pt to wear in her HAIR! It's the little, but oh-so-important things that make us feel special and valued even in our smallest of smallest wants. -A.Jurek, RN DAISY Coordinator