I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a child. My sister was in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia when she was a little girl. I loved visiting her there. The children's hospital was amazing. I remember seeing a little girl named Justine who was in the same room as Megan. She was 2 years old and was getting breathing treatments every few hours. One nurse came in to give her a breathing treatment. The little girl was scared and crying. The nurse had no compassion and held her still and made her breathe the medicine while she was screaming and scared. The next nurse that came in to give the breathing treatment was great. She saw that the little girl was scared and so played games and made it a fun thing for her. I loved seeing how a nurses approach made all the difference in the world to a child. That made such an impact on me. I chose at that moment to be a nurse when I grew up. No child should ever have to have a bad nurse and I wanted to be the best nurse I could be so that my patients would have a good experience.
I held onto that dream and made it a reality. Eight years ago in June I became a NICU nurse. Eight years ago I found the best job in the world. I love what I do and I love the people that I work with. Up until now I thought this is what I would be doing until I retired as a gray hair old lady. Up until now. Now I'm not sure whether or not I'll ever be able to work in the NICU again.
Awhile ago my nemesis, the NeoBlue Bili lights, entered our unit. For whatever reason, the lights hate me. And I hate them. Ok, it is mutual. . . We hate each other. Every time I see the lights I get sick with in 2-3 minutes. I get an instant migraine which causes my stomach to hurt, I get dizzy and I get a headache. The last time I worked with a baby under these bili lights I had to go home sick after four hours due to what felt like the worst food poisoning case in the world. The bili lights had caused me to throw up and feel like I was going to pass out. Not cool!! After 3 hours away from the lights I was totally fine.
I talked to my manager and she had me talk to the disability office to figure out what we could do. I filled out the paperwork and gave some ideas of ways to modify my work environment so that I could work in my unit without getting sick. Today I got a call from the disablilty manager. She told me that I was on work modification until we can figure out what can be done so that the demon lights (my words, not hers) would not affect me. Then the real blow. If a solution can not be found, I can never work in the NICU again. I tried to see if we could just forget the whole matter and have me just deal with the severe migraines. That was not going to happen. So now I am on modified duty and I can only go to work and do projects.
This was probably the worst news that I could have heard. I cried and Chris held me and told me that we would get through this. I cried some more and tried imagining my life with out my job as a NICU nurse. It was a pretty hard thing to do. I have been wrestling all day with my fears and trying desperately to give them to God and just fully trust in Him. He gave me my passion and my love for nursing. He gave me my job and the joy that I have in my job. I know that He can take it away just as quick as He gave it to me. I know that He is in full control. He can heal me of this affliction, help me find a way to deal with it or He can redirect my path. I know what I want. What I desperately want. But I also know that He has plans for my life that I can not fathom. There have been so many things in my life that have happened that I thought were horrible things and I wanted them to be different. Looking back, I can see that God orchestrated them in His own way and with His own timing to make me into the person that He wants. I am trying to fully submit to His will. Not with worry and fear and grumbling, but with joy and trust and hope. It is not an easy path to go down when I can't see the end. I'm sure that I will have to give this burden back to God at least a few more times. But one thing I know is this: God is Good. All the time!!
Here are some pictures of my sweet unit and a few of the nurses that I love dearly. This is a place I hold dear to my heart.
My own sweet baby in the NICU.
5 comments:
Oh Sarah, I am so sorry :( What a great post. You are right...God does have a plan for us all. It stings when it doesn't line up the way we think it should but he does have a plan. Thanks for the reminder. I will pray for you too.
Sarah- I know how heartbreaking this is. I indeed know how hard it is not to be in NICU, and there are times you have to act on faith alone. Thank God you have your wonderful family and friends with you in this time of trial.
Sarah, I love you so much dear sister. Knowing that God loves you more and wants good for you is an even better thought. Praying that a solution will be found to help you be okay with the billi lights. I love you and know how much you care for those precious children. Hugs across the miles!
Sarah, I have been thinking of you since I read this post and praying, too. Praying that they can find a solution that you are excited about.
Sarah, I am so so sorry to hear this. I certainly can relate to this. If you remember in college when I was majoring in vocal performance, my passion and my gift, God took away my voice and I was told I may never sing again! I had to think about changing my major and my dreams and aspirations forever. God had other plans for my life....and I thought I was nothing without my voice. God chose to restore me, but he did so in a way that made me reevaluate who I truly am....that I was more than my talent and more than my voice. I am thankful now looking back, but at the time it was one of the most painful experiences ever. God has made you and will sustain you through anything. I will pray that this will be resolved and that through this trial, you will learn more about yourself and God!
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