My nurses changed my life and my career ambitions
By Ellen Gordon
I have been a patient at Children’s Memorial Hospital since fourth grade, almost half of my entire life. I have systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own joints and organs. Because of this condition, I have missed more than 160 days of high school.
When I was in eighth grade, I had an allergic reaction to a treatment that caused me to go into acute respiratory distress. I ended up on a ventilator in a drug-induced coma. When I woke up, my first memory after being intubated in December was seeing the calendar turned to February and thinking, “What happened to January?” I later discovered that I had a hole in my throat because of a tracheotomy, and I could not move my muscles after being in a month-long coma. More importantly, I had to deal with the emotional stress of almost dying.
I spent nine weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit and six weeks at a rehabilitation facility. It was during this time that I really noticed the care and compassion that nurses provide to each and every patient. The nurses were the ones who explained to me what was happening and why. They sat on the side of my bed and let me cry. They cheered me on when I finally got the strength to swivel my neck. They even occasionally braided my hair and plucked my eyebrows. They helped me heal, and they made me feel human again.
There are so many wonderful nurses here. I really don’t know how I would have managed all these years and trips to the hospital without them. I am 17 years old now and a senior in high school. Because of everything they have done for me, I want to be a nurse and do the same for other sick children. I hope to one day be a pediatric nurse at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. I think the new hospital will be amazing. It will offer children the very best care in an environment where they can feel safe. I can’t wait to work there.
This article first appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of Heroes magazine. For a dose of inspiration sent right to your inbox, sign up to receive our Heroes Update. Or read important facts about us.