During National Nursing Week, I frequently reflect on...
Meet Jane - Three Generations of Caring for Others
During National Nursing Week, I frequently reflect on how a few nurses' compassion impacted how I dealt with the loss of my grandmother while in hospital. With that thought in mind, I decided to take the opportunity to have a chat with a local nurse to find out what inspired her to work in this noble profession.
As we started our chat, I quickly discovered that she is a married mother of two young adult sons and a Licenced Practical Nurse (LPN) just like her mom. She shared,” Mom went into the nursing program at Camp Hill Hospital Halifax and graduated in 1960. When I was one year old, we (my mom and older brother) moved to New Glasgow back to Mom’s hometown when she found herself a young single parent after her marriage ended. She quickly started working at the Aberdeen Hospital and she stayed there until she retired in 1995.” She paused, “She was incredibly inspiring. She walked to work every day as we didn’t have a car. She later bought a home for our family,“ she smiled proudly, “That was something in the late 1970s!” And if that wasn't enough, “She also took in foster children.”
I stopped for a minute to process what she said and wondered what type of person takes in foster children after retirement? I soon found out. “My grandmother had dozens of foster children over the years right up until she was in her 70s! All that, while she was raising her own 9 children.” I was dumbfounded. “My grandfather worked the railroad and was killed in an accident in his early 40s leaving my grandmother a young widow with young children. She started taking in foster babies once her own toddlers were a little older and not quite so dependent on her. She was an amazing woman.”
“I think that is why my mom decided to take in foster children when she retired. She still had a lot of love to share.” Speaking of love to share, I wondered if her mom had ever remarried, “Yes, mom remarried when I was 9, but he died when I was 11 years old. She found love again and married when I was 17 years old and was in my last year of high school. Sadly, he passed away about 20 years ago.” She smiled softly, “They had a good life. They took in foster children together, mom finally learned to drive, and she cared for him every day until he passed away.” I could feel a lump in my throat developing and my eyes starting to tear up as I imagined how that must have felt.
Today, Jane often reflects on how fortunate she is to have such strong amazing role models in her life. That the calling of caring for others was passed along to her from a very young age. Jane has been an LPN at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow since 1990. Incredibly, she and her mom were both Nurses there from 1990 to 1995 at the Aberdeen Hospital before her mom retired. She smiled, “Sometimes elderly patients today will mix me up with Mom. They remember her and I remind them of her. I take that as a compliment.” I commented, “You must carry a sense of pride to be her daughter and walk the same halls that she once did.” Her eyes lit up, “Yes, I sure do. She left me some big shoes to fill.” Little did I know when I started chatting with Jane that I would be taken on a journey of love, loss, hope, compassion, and strength. That her story would encompass three generations of incredible women. I quickly learned who inspired her and why she is the woman she is today. I learned that while caring and comforting others, you can also find yourself. Life really is a full circle.
I think these words by William Penn fit beautifully, “I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, thereby any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass with way again.”
Happy Nurses Week to all Pictou County Nurses. We thank you!
I stopped for a minute to process what she said and wondered what type of person takes in foster children after retirement? I soon found out. “My grandmother had dozens of foster children over the years right up until she was in her 70s! All that, while she was raising her own 9 children.” I was dumbfounded. “My grandfather worked the railroad and was killed in an accident in his early 40s leaving my grandmother a young widow with young children. She started taking in foster babies once her own toddlers were a little older and not quite so dependent on her. She was an amazing woman.”
“I think that is why my mom decided to take in foster children when she retired. She still had a lot of love to share.” Speaking of love to share, I wondered if her mom had ever remarried, “Yes, mom remarried when I was 9, but he died when I was 11 years old. She found love again and married when I was 17 years old and was in my last year of high school. Sadly, he passed away about 20 years ago.” She smiled softly, “They had a good life. They took in foster children together, mom finally learned to drive, and she cared for him every day until he passed away.” I could feel a lump in my throat developing and my eyes starting to tear up as I imagined how that must have felt.
Today, Jane often reflects on how fortunate she is to have such strong amazing role models in her life. That the calling of caring for others was passed along to her from a very young age. Jane has been an LPN at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow since 1990. Incredibly, she and her mom were both Nurses there from 1990 to 1995 at the Aberdeen Hospital before her mom retired. She smiled, “Sometimes elderly patients today will mix me up with Mom. They remember her and I remind them of her. I take that as a compliment.” I commented, “You must carry a sense of pride to be her daughter and walk the same halls that she once did.” Her eyes lit up, “Yes, I sure do. She left me some big shoes to fill.” Little did I know when I started chatting with Jane that I would be taken on a journey of love, loss, hope, compassion, and strength. That her story would encompass three generations of incredible women. I quickly learned who inspired her and why she is the woman she is today. I learned that while caring and comforting others, you can also find yourself. Life really is a full circle.
I think these words by William Penn fit beautifully, “I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, thereby any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass with way again.”
Happy Nurses Week to all Pictou County Nurses. We thank you!