A Bless Day

The prettiest season is here again . . . SPRING!!!!  I love the colors of the flowers, and blooming Dogwoods, Tulips, and Redbud trees. The most beautiful sight is taking a drive to Luray, Va. It can be the dreariest of days, and and rain is threatening to fall. But still there is beauty surround

 As part of my job as a nurse, I had to drive some students to Doctor appointments that was in a nearby town. I loved taking the back route into Woodstock, VA. As we drove down the wet road to the appointment I asked my student to look out and see how vivid the Red Buds were. Their pink color was so vibrant against the gray skies. It made you see the awesomeness of our Lord God. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Later, as we drove back from the doctor’s office. My charge started to understand why I loved this view. She was pointing out other types of blooms and comment on which looked the best. By the time we arrived back the Academy I had the student laughing and enjoying the ride home.    

We lived in Front Royal for over twenty years. My husband and I bought a small two story home. It was perfect for the two of us. During the years of living in the house, there was a slight bone of contention. I wanted to have a Pink Dogwood and/or a Red Bud tree.  I shopped around looking for the best price for a small tree. But I found that the prices were way out of our range. The Shenandoah Valley is so full of these trees that you could stop along the side of the road and one dig one up. But there is a hitch. Don’t get caught. The Redbuds are protected just as our own state flower is, the Dogwood. People were caught and prosecuted.

Twenty years later, one afternoon I was cleaning up some debris from the front lawn. I put the clippings into the trash bin and turned around. Low and behold there was a huge Redbud tree growing in the side yard. I stopped what I was doing went inside and got my husband. I said, “You gotta see this! We ‘ve got a huge Redbud growing in our side yard. Robbie replied, “You’ve got to be kidding!” We walked outside and started to laugh and realized God has blessed us with the most beautiful Redbud creation of our own in our side yard. 

The Doctor Said What?

After I had my Achilles tendon lengthened about a year ago, I found that I was still tripping over the right foot. I thought I was walking though my gait correctly. But alas, as I watched my reflection I could see I was pulling my foot around the gait instead of through it. This made me limp just as bad as I had before. I was very frustrated about my walk. The end result of the first surgery was successful but, I still limped. Especially, when I was tired.

Finally, I went back to Dr. Carpenter and asked him for some physical therapy. His reply was, “You already know the exercises, just do them. You don’t need physical therapy.” At first I was happy with that news. But, as I did my exercises I realized I needed to see a therapist in order to make certain I was doing the exercises correctly. I returned again to the doctor’s office again and asked for some physical therapy. He still said, “No, you don’t need it.” As a result, I relearned my old walk. I swung the leg around the gait instead of through the gait and still had a noticeable limp.

Papa was furious with the doctor. He asked me to make a third appointment and he met me at the Doctor’s office. After introductions were made, my father went straight to the point. He asked Dr. Carpenter, “Why isn’t my daughter receiving the physical therapy that she has requested?” The doctor replied to my father saying, “She doesn’t need it. She already knows how to do the exercises. It is not warranted.” My father became very angry and then he responded, “How dare you tell my daughter she doesn’t need Physical Therapy. She wants to walk through the gait and not around it. If you don’t give her the therapy that she requested I will report you to the American Medical Association.”

The Doctor finally relented and I got my physical therapy but it was too late. Finally, I went to a physical therapist a year later. The therapist was very surprised that my doctor didn’t prescribe the therapy which would have helped me immensely in returning to a normal walk. I worked hard on doing the exercises.

One day I decided to ride my bike to the therapist’s office. I told my parents that I could do this because I wanted to see if biking really did help stretch the Achilles Tendon. After I arrived, I walked into the therapists office and hoped the she would notice.  Just as I predicted she noticed immediately that my foot was able to be manipulated very easily. She asked me what I did and I said, “I rode my bike.” She was amazed that I was able to ride such a long distance but, I knew I could do it. I’ve ridden my bike so many a times. After each ride I walked normally for approximately ten minutes before the heel would start to pull up. Walking on my heel was such an exhilarating feeling for me. This caused me to walk slower and making sure the heel touched the floor in a normal fashion.

Sometimes, I felt like I was doing the exercises for no reason. Seeing my shadow bobbing up and down clued me in that my limp had returned. At times I would trip and fall and skinned both knees and elbows. It was quite embarrassing.  As the years flew by, I tripped more frequently and most often I was able to catch myself. But sometimes it was quite embarrassing for me after tripping and falling. Some people would help me up others just stared. I would reprimand myself at times because I wasn’t able to keep my right foot from rotating outward or tripping over the foot. Oh, how frustrating it was.

Finding My Parachute Color

As a child I learned to understand the limits I had to live with and accept many disappointments that have come my way.  The most difficult decision I had to make was “what kind of career I would choose for myself.”  Would I be a clerk, sales person, or would I get a professional career?  I Thought long and hard, "What did I want to do with my life.  Since I grew up with a handicap, I figured I would best serve society by becoming a nurse.

I was accepted in a community college in the Richmond area. I learned a lot about non-acceptance for those people who where slight different. Yes, I had a handi-cap but, I continued to keep up with the physical demands of the profession. I knew I would not become an operating nurse. I needed to figure out what I could do for the patients I worked with. But the community college did not work with me as I requested. The instructors did not want me in the program. I was very disheartened when I finished the quarter. They politely told me…. “Do not attempt to return. We won’t accept you back.”

I walked out very upset. I wanted to be a nurse because I knew the problems patients have ... better than most people. I could see the potential in a person with a infirmity and figure out how to accommodate for his/her fine motor coordination. I could show someone how to button a button on a shirt or a blouse with one hand.  I had a lot of patience with the elderly.

Years later, after Robbie and I married, I still wanted to do something with my life. One day a flyer came in the mail from the community college in Danville had a LPN nursing program. This was a twelve month program. I really wanted this.  I got all my transcripts sent to DCC and did the entrance interview. Afterwards the nursing staff said to me, “We see you can do the work. . . . . now, prove it to us.”  It was like deja-vu. My parents always challenged me and I never back down. They had given me the chance to truly prove that I how capable I was.  I floated out of the interview looking forward to start anew in this LPN program.

I had another obstacle to cross. I had to ask for financial help from my parents. I went to Richmond for the weekend so I could talk with Papa, face to face.  They had no idea I had applied and was accepted into the LPN program.  I was very anxious confronting Papa.  Later that evening he announced he was going to the store. I asked him if I could come along.

 As we rode to the store, I summoned up the courage to face the music. I said, “Papa, you know I always wanted to become a working member in society. I have applied to the LPN program at Danville Community College. I have submitted all my transcripts and had my entrance interview. I would like to borrow some money to finance this endeavor. Then, there was dead silence. Papa just kept driving, and I thought I just asked for the stars and figured Papa would say, “NO!”

To my surprise, Papa replied, “If you finish this program, you will receive a car just like the rest of your brothers and sisters did after they graduated. I had such an astonished look on my face that Papa said “’Yes, it is true, I will honor my pledge but, you will have to prove to me that you can accomplish this task and graduate.”

When we arrived home, I was so excited, I ran to the kitchen to tell Mama the good news about me going back to school. Mama was pleased and agreed with Papa  I would make and excellent nurse.

The first meeting of our class contained fifty-two candidates.  One of the nurses addressed us all. She said, “ Look to your left, and look to your right, more than one half of this class will not proceed into the second quarter of this twelve month program.”  I looked at both sides and hoped I was not the one who would be dropped from the program.

A year had passed and at the end the summer, I became one of the nineteen that graduated from Danville Community College School of Nursing. My parents and various family members also came for the pinning ceremony. I was so please to see my parents beaming back at me when I receive my nursing pin.

Later on I found out how proud he was. Papa never showed his feelings too often. He was strong for us but very silent. One day I asked Mama, “I have a feeling Papa was not proud that I became a nurse?” Mama replied, “He is actually more proud of you graduating from nursing school then Judy graduating from medical school. He just doesn't show it.”

I found my niche working with the elderly doing home care. All my clients loved my sunny disposition. I always tried to keep them happy or raise their spirits when they were low. It was a special calling and also rewarding. I worked with the elderly for nine years.

Later, I became a school Nurse at a military academy in Front Royal,VA, after my husband accepted a position as a teacher. Later that semester, I was interviewed by the head of the school and hired that day. I remained at that position for eleven years and have enjoyed my nursing practice immensely.

I found my color.  It’s  yellow!!!!! It shows my disposition in life.  Just like the sun, bright and cheerful.