This week was a rather slow week as far as my project
goes because I have a ton of school activities that require more of my time and
attention. Don't be disappointed though
because I did get to go out and work on some things at Comfort Care Hospice
this week. We are still completing
preparation for our participation in the 2012 Veterans Day Parade. I have also planned visits with two different
patients this upcoming week. One is with
a U.S. Navy Veteran that is receiving hospice care. I think my interest in meeting him mainly
stems from my Navy background. The other
is with a couple. They are both U.S. Army Veterans, one of which is receiving
hospice care. They met during WWII when
she was an Army nurse and he was a fighter pilot receiving care. I am so excited to see what this week has in
store for me as I continue to learn about the impact of hospice on our Veteran
population! I hope you will visit again
after next week to see what my experiences entail.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Productive week at Comfort Care Hospice of Pelham
This week I spent the majority of my time at Comfort Care Hospice making a brochure to recruit Veterans as volunteers. I will be handing these out at the Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham as well as when I visit the area VFW chapters. I attached a copy in my blog so that you all could tell me what you think. The color scheme may be slightly different but the information should be the same.
I never imagined when I started this project that I would find such a passion for my fellow Veterans with terminal illnesses. Not that I didn't feel connected to them already, because we will forever be one. But, this turned out to be more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Pride is something that runs deep and to me, once you have it, it never goes away. I will never forget the feeling I had in 2001 on August 17th, the day I graduated U.S. Navy bootcamp at 21 years old. I was standing in ranks for our graduation ceremony fighting back tears. These were not tears of sorrow but rather they were tears of pride and happiness. I am proud to be an American! I will forever be a U.S. Navy Sailor and that is something that can never be taken away. I will always have my shipmates (past, present, and future), a family of people that I belong to, a sense of accomplishment, and pride that runs through my entire body. Sometimes I joke around by saying, "I bleed red, white and blue". If that were possible, that is what you would see if you cut me open. I will forever be that person that gets chills and has to fight back tears every time she hears The Star Spangled Banner. For me, The Star Spangled Banner represents a sacrifice made; the blood, sweat and tears that have poured out of every servicemember (no matter the branch) in the process of keeping our country free. Some have paid the ultimate sacrifice when they lost their lives in the line of duty; a father/mother, son/daughter, brother/sister never made it home to the ones they loved. Some of the Veterans that were lucky enough to make it home to their friends/families and live their lives are now fighting a battle for the last time. It is a fight that will not be won; it will result in a loss of life.
These Veterans did all that was ever asked of them in serving our country. It is now our turn to serve our Veterans and ensure that no one Veteran ever has to die alone. I hope that you will join me!!
I never imagined when I started this project that I would find such a passion for my fellow Veterans with terminal illnesses. Not that I didn't feel connected to them already, because we will forever be one. But, this turned out to be more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Pride is something that runs deep and to me, once you have it, it never goes away. I will never forget the feeling I had in 2001 on August 17th, the day I graduated U.S. Navy bootcamp at 21 years old. I was standing in ranks for our graduation ceremony fighting back tears. These were not tears of sorrow but rather they were tears of pride and happiness. I am proud to be an American! I will forever be a U.S. Navy Sailor and that is something that can never be taken away. I will always have my shipmates (past, present, and future), a family of people that I belong to, a sense of accomplishment, and pride that runs through my entire body. Sometimes I joke around by saying, "I bleed red, white and blue". If that were possible, that is what you would see if you cut me open. I will forever be that person that gets chills and has to fight back tears every time she hears The Star Spangled Banner. For me, The Star Spangled Banner represents a sacrifice made; the blood, sweat and tears that have poured out of every servicemember (no matter the branch) in the process of keeping our country free. Some have paid the ultimate sacrifice when they lost their lives in the line of duty; a father/mother, son/daughter, brother/sister never made it home to the ones they loved. Some of the Veterans that were lucky enough to make it home to their friends/families and live their lives are now fighting a battle for the last time. It is a fight that will not be won; it will result in a loss of life.
These Veterans did all that was ever asked of them in serving our country. It is now our turn to serve our Veterans and ensure that no one Veteran ever has to die alone. I hope that you will join me!!
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