When we were kids, we all had heroes. Some of us wanted to be amazing musicians like Elvis; others wanted to model after their favorite teacher, or be like their dad, the firefighter.My hero is Rhonda.
When I was 16, my parents separated and that same summer I tore my ACL on a trampoline. It was a simple procedure so after physical therapy for a couple of months, I finally had my knee surgery the first week of Christmas break. Less than a week later, I was back in the hospital with a massive DVT in the same leg. It hurt, but more than that, it was scary!
I was in the hospital the week of Christmas, the first Christmas my parents wouldn't be together, my leg hurt, I was sad, scared, tired and in pain. At one point I had chest pain, which is a bad sign when you have a DVT. The nurses sat me up, checked me out and it was just a gas bubble. I burped and felt better, but I started to cry. Rhonda was my nurse that day. I was bawling my eyes out because it was as though all the anger, fear, and exhaustion all came out at once. Rhonda comforted me, let me cry, stroked my arm, and talked with me. She knew I needed TLC, and she gave buckets of it. After her shift ended at 7, she came back to my room to visit some more. Rhonda didn't have to do that, but she did it anyway.
That day, Rhonda made a lasting impression. I never forgot her, and I decided that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. Nursing was something I'd already thought about, but Rhonda planted the seed that became earnestness and eagerness to bethe best nurse I could be. I am now a 24-year-old healthy, happy, young woman who graduates soon from Maryville University with my BSN and RN. I officially accepted my first nursing position as a GN at Mercy. I could not be more joyful. After I left the meeting where I accepted this position, I visited Rhonda. Rhonda is the reason I became a nurse. I am forever grateful.
NOTE: This is Rhonda's 2nd DAISY Award!