Family and nursing care are often used interchangeably these days, but the two are actually quite different. Family care is the time you spend with a parent, child, spouse, and/or other extended family. Nursing care is the time you spend with someone with Alzheimer’s or another disease.
Both are necessary, but family care is the thing that makes family care so much more special. It’s a time to be with loved ones who are sick. It’s a time to have fun. It’s a time to be able to watch someone in pain. It’s a time to not always feel helpless, but to know that even if something terrible happens, you can still help. You can still protect them.
Nursing care can be a lonely time, but it can also be the most rewarding thing you do every day. Nursing care really is a sacred time for caregivers. The caregiving that you do for your loved ones is a privilege—you are doing something that is meant to be. There is nothing more wonderful than being able to do something that you are meant to do. Unfortunately that privilege isn’t always afforded to us.
There are many times when we don’t know if someone is suffering. I’ve been there; I’ve seen people in pain, not knowing what to do, or how to feel. I’ve also seen people take up the slack when they are feeling overwhelmed and unable to do something for themselves. I’ve seen caregivers get overwhelmed themselves and take on the role of the caregiver, and be overwhelmed too.
This is the worst, but my favorite moment of the trailer was when my doctor was telling me how much I was making and how important my future was. Ive also seen patients who are so ill that they cant lift their own limbs, or need to be wheeled into a hospital bed. As many of you know, I used to be a nurse. My family and I were forced to move because of my chronic health issues, and I had to learn to do everything by myself.
I thought that that moment was so sad and depressing that it was going to be a rare moment of peace, but it wasn’t. I could see the doctor’s eyes glaze over at me, but I was totally okay with that. I saw him watching me, and even though he didn’t say anything, I really felt like he was with me. It was very touching.
I have to give a shout-out to a couple of people who have been brave enough to share their stories with this blog on this very subject. There are some very courageous folks out there, just like me.
And you should expect more stories like this in the future.
I am very lucky enough to have someone as awesome as Dr. Vazquez who is helping my wife and I with our daughter’s care. He has been such a help and we are so happy that we have him as our family’s primary physician. If you are struggling with any medical issues or feel like you might need to talk to someone about your health care, don’t hesitate to reach out.
One of the biggest problems I see with the care of children is that carers aren’t always knowledgeable, up-to-date, and well prepared for the care of the children they are caring for. When I was in school I had a 3rd rate teacher who was the worst teacher you could ever have, but I can honestly say I learned more from the kindness of other kids than from any of the teachers in my entire three-year academic career.
