In Service to the Poor, We Gain More Than We Give

Today's reflection comes from Keri Sutton, RN, an emergency room nurse at Chandler Regional Hospital in Chandler, Arizona. 

 

The thing that probably surprised me the most was how I felt once I returned home. I am not sure if I know how to put it into words but the closest thing I can think of is a sense of purpose is taken away from you. We woke up early and started our days with such a purpose and enthusiasm for the care that we were going to be giving and even though the day was long and exhausting you came away with such a good feeling that you may have actually made a bit of a difference. With my role on the team as the discharge educator, I like to think that some of my teaching actually got through to people and that they might take some of what I told them and use it to change old habits. That sense of purpose and excitement just suddenly ended when we got home.

The first patient experience one that will probably stay with me for a very long time has to be the ethical dilemma of the 15 year old girl that was brought in by her mother. We found out that she was pregnant and then discovered that the mother’s husband, the girl’s stepfather, was the father of the baby. The mother confided in me that she was very depressed about the situation but was also scared to do anything about it since she had received threats from her husband that he would kill her if she told us. That was a very difficult thing to hear and to then realize that our resources to do anything about the situation was almost none. To find out that it was an unfortunate "common" occurrence in Guatemala.

The second experience would have to be the little old lady who had just lost her husband and son in a car accident and was now living on her own. She came in for multiple complaints, but I remember the way she started crying when we gave her a pair of glasses. She stated that she had never been able to see that clearly and was now going to be able to make "good clothes" to sell to be able to feed herself. Almost everyone I spoke with did not know how to read but needed to be able to sew or stitch to make a living. She was extremely grateful for that gift of sight.

The last memorable experience has to be the visit we took to the orphanage. I have an adopted sister from an orphanage in the Philippines and when we walked into this orphanage it brought back a lot of memories. To see all those beautiful children that just latch on to you and to know that they need a home is truly a loving but sad experience. The comfort was that they did seem like very happy children and had a gorgeous place to live. I told my husband once I returned home that if it was as easy as it was 39 years ago when my parents adopted my sister (they left with her that night) that I would have brought him home a newly adopted little girl.

I have already made a big change in that I decided to step down from my current Charge Nurse position in the ER and switch to the float pool. This way I have more time to do some volunteering through our community and try to regain more of that purpose back.

I have kept in touch with several people from the team and I know that I am not the exception. I truly believe that we came away with a lot more than we could have ever imagined. With me truly having that feeling that I did make a difference in someone’s life just gives me the thirst to want to do so much more. I look around my home and do realize how fortunate I am, but I look at it all so differently now and realize that it is all just possessions and that true joy comes from giving and helping. After being on this trip with this incredible group of individuals I feel truly blessed to have been a part of this team and to have made life long friendships with you all. It was in God's eyes that we were chosen and for that I am so thankful.

I could have kept going a lot longer than our 10 days there!  Again it is just at the end of the trip loosing that sense of purpose that you have. I am going to do my best to try to regain that purpose by exploring other options for volunteering in the mean time, and I encourage any and all to do the same for there is no other feeling on earth quite like it.

Comments

[Bernita McTernan]

I am so inspired and teary eyed at your wonderful stories. Thank-you for your healing work and generous hearts!

I, for one, am deeply moved and grateful for your answering the CALL and am proud to be associated with your wonderful work!

Bernita

[Puma Ferrari]

interesting post, pretty much covered it all for me, thanks.