Story Submitted to Shield HealthCare’s Annual Caregiver Story Contest: “What Makes Caregiving Rewarding?” | 2012
Story by Carmella A., LVN
“My story began over thirty years ago when in the prime of my teenage years, I was hospitalized for a brain aneurysm that took me and my family by surprise. At the time I was an active fifteen year old teenager who was focused on becoming a famous architect when life decided to deal me a different hand. In twenty four hours, my life completely changed and I was hospitalized for over two months. During my stay in the hospital, I can still clearly remember all the high quality care that all the staff gave me, from my surgeons all the way down to the housekeepers. I realized that the kindness, care and patience the staff gave me could not be anything else but a gift from God and that not everyone was blessed with this gift.
I eventually went home to start my recovery process. My recovery was a long process and I had to once again relearn the basic motor skills of life, such as walking, talking and how to feed myself by my own hand. The years passed and I eventually made it through to the other side to who I would become today. Through my journey, I met so many people that needed care, but what could I do? I made my decision and took some classes for my Certified Nurses Aide certification and my Home Health Aide certification so that it would allow me to start working in the medical field, which I came to love. I love putting a smile on all types of hurting individuals, from the youngest child all the way up to the eldest individual, from all different types of socio-economic backgrounds.
If there is one thing that I’ve learned throughout the years while being a caregiver, it is that we need one another, especially when we are hurting. So that I could give my patients more help and care, I eventually went back to school and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Today, I can truly say that I am doing exactly what I was born to do. Today, I also feel that I have beaten all the odds that were meant to impede me from living my life to the fullest. After my aneurysm, the doctors thought that I would probably never be able to talk or walk again, yet alone be a caregiver.
As of today, I could never see myself in life doing anything else besides caring and helping someone make it to the next day. I find that caregiving is very rewarding and it helps keep me humble and grateful.”
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