Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all who read this blog! I began my day this morning with an 8:15 am page from my partner asking what to do with a patient who just couldn't understand why her gallbladder couldn't be taken out today even though she had suffered with it for 10 years and was certainly NOT an emergent/urgent operative candidate! Being somewhat disgusted with this ungrateful and downright rude patient, I got out of bed, showered, and headed out to the hospital four rounds in a less than cheerful mood...

I guess God had some things in store, because rounds totally changed my outlook on the day! While all of my patients were kind and doing fairly well, two really touched my heart. My 86 year old patient for 2 months now smiled and proudly told me she was ready for dinner and introduced me to her grandsons who were visiting. While this doesn't seem like much, one has to undertand that this lady rarely talks and certainly has NEVER smiled in the time I've been seeing her! The second patient was even better. He received a tracheostomy from me last week, though I know that in his heart he didn't want to have it. This morning, he was wide awake (a first in the last 10 days) and smiled when I entered the room. I asked himif he remembered me (he was sedated the first time we met) and he smiled and nodded "yes." He shook my hand, gave me a thumbs up, and clearly let me know that he was grateful for his trach and the opportunity to begin weaning off the ventilator. His gratitude for something so small was truly amazing and rewarding. It obviously changed my outlook on the day!

Since Thanksgiving is a day of recognizing all that we are thankful for, I decided to take a moment to count my blessings. Here are the things I am most thankful for...

1. God and my faith...

Without these I wouldn't be where I am now!

2. My husband, Adam.

Adam is my biggest cheerleader and has weathered the storms of my training and establishment of the new business with extreme patience and love.

3. My family.

I'm blessed to have wonderful parents who have supported me in many, many ways and are in my business with me every step (even when it's not going perfectly). Their company and support here in Tennessee have been invaluable and for that I am truly grateful! My grandparents have also been wonderful in their support of me. Their words of encouragement and visits are well-appreciated and certainly do not go unnoticed! Leslee and Trey are the best siblings an older sister could ever hope to have and I'm so glad that we are blessed with a closeness that most siblings never can understand. And obviously, I'm thankful for Joey, Job, and the rest of my extended family as well.

4. My friends.

Tiffany, Sarah, Jennifer, and Dinah are the best friends I could ever hope to have and I'm truly grateful that God placed all of you into my life. (And while I don't see or talk to Teah, Cynthia, Miren, Maggie, and Blerina, as often, I think the world of you all as well and am honored to have all of you in my life!)

I'd venture to say that most of you who read this blog are truly the people in my life that make every day another adventure and truly a blessed existence! Thank you for being a part of my life and once again, Happy Thanksgiving!