My favorite things

Meditation Garden, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

I park on the other side of this garden each morning and have the option of walking across the parking lot or through the garden. The garden route is a little less direct so I don't take it every day which is really dumb since it is so breathtakingly beautiful.

Most mornings as I enter the hospital from the west Women's Services entrances there will be a young man sitting on the bench by the door. He is rumpled, bleary eyed and talking excitedly into a phone. It's a different man every morning but they all have one thing in common. They aren't patients but they wear thin plastic bracelets around a wrist. The bracelet is the tell tale sign of a new father. They are new fathers who have fallen in love with a precious baby born during the night. It's finally a reasonable hour to wake up friends and loved ones.

That is the moment I walk by and smile to myself. It's not a bad way to begin a day.

School Days

Window Box, Charleston, S.C.

First week of school for the lowcountry and I made a mother cry.

All the back-to-school ads brought back fun memories of my kids and since I don't have any children in my immediate circle I called a single mother of a great teenager and asked mom how her daughter was set for school. She started to cry. I had waited almost too late to offer to help out a bright young gal whose mother works a minimum wage job. I got the cash I would have spent on my own and put it in an envelope to take care of a couple outfits for the first day at school and class supplies.

The lady slipped by my office to get the envelope and was so grateful when she left that I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. It was shame really, for letting her get to that stage. One of the nurses I work with asked what was wrong and kicked into action. By the end of the week we had a box of gently used fashionable clothes of the right size, school supplies and gift cards. She has four new "aunts" looking out for her. Thanks Kelly, Beth and Ginger! I love ya.

The Lone Sailor

The Lone Sailor, Riverfront Park, North Charleston, S.C.

He is a bit over dressed for our heat but Iam pleased that North Charleston has one of the twelve copies of the Lone Sailor Statue. The original Lone Sailor statue was created in 1987 as a tribute to all the personnel of the sea services and placed at the United States Navy Memorial. This gentleman overlooks the Cooper River at the North Charleston Riverfront Park.


In other more local news, my hospital passed our Joint Commission survey with flying colors today. Whew. What a relief. No matter how much we try to maintain a high level of care you never know exactly what surveyors are going to concentrate on.  They send a team that can pop up anywhere. Our CEO gave us the good news at 4 p.m. that all went well and they left very impressed. I am very proud of all my co-workers today. High fives to everyone! Yippee!

Sharing the love, and raising our sugar levels

Thanks to Alexandra Seabrook, Miss College of Charleston for putting on her tiara and heels and spreading smiles all over the hospital this morning. She was such a great sport and I marched her all over the building passing out candy treats and posing for pictures. She had the most dramatic high heel shoes on, her feet must have been numb.

I stayed up late last night baking coconut cupcakes for the Valentine Cupcake decorating contest. I never enter to be judged but I feel I should support the project since it is a fundraiser for my favorite charity - the American Heart Association. There was no doubt who was the clear winners were. Look at these amazing cupcakes!

Everybody Needs a Break

Coworkers can be lifesavers, no matter where you work.

Trot for Tots

Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I read that the new boardwalk along Shem Creek opened this week. That should make a sweet walk some weekend morning. I've been thinking of Vickery's Salmon Caesar salad since the day I went kayaking on Shem Creek and had brunch there. Mmmmm.

Speaking of Mt. Pleasant, the 2nd annual Trot for Tots 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29th at the Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital. There is a kiddie costume contest, face painting etc. and prizes will be awarded. The event helps fund car seats for babies who might not get them otherwise. Registration link here. There is free parking on campus and live Music will be provided by Steel Petals. I missed it last year but the photos made it look like a fun event.

Don't let me forget that I am to be at work before 7 a.m. tomorrow to take a picture of a gaggle of anesthesiologists in the OR. I am very motivated to cooperate with the people who control pain.

My baby luvin' peeps

Charleston, S.C.

When I moved to Charleston many years ago, not knowing a soul, I went to every hospital in town and asked to see their labor & delivery unit. I was an experienced nurse. I'd worked in community hospitals, huge medical universities and ran a free standing birthing center for a few years.

St. Francis Hospital was downtown at Rutledge and Calhoun St. at that time and the Birthing Suite was on the back of the third floor facing Calhoun St. The nurse on duty gave me a tour but was bewildered. She said there were no positions open, there never were. Their nurses didn't leave. Bingo! I knew exactly where I was going to work.

I eventually joined this gang of wacky loving southern women who made me feel welcome and became my family. We worked our butts off on evening shift, delivering babies left and right. We worked double shifts when necessary, came in early and stayed late. We worked hard and laughed until we cried. We caught the babies the doctors didn't make it for and cried with the parents who suffered losses. The Birth Suite has won every "Best Place to Have a Baby" award that Charleston City Paper has ever awarded. Years later people still proudly parade their growing children past the labor unit hoping to see the nurse whose picture is in their baby book.

I left bedside nursing long ago and it seems I keep going to retirement parties or farewell parties of some of the old gang. I'm not sure you can get a closer bond than this - we delivered each others babies and watching each others children grow up.

Miss Elnora Hazel retired this week. She used to sneak in to all my new mothers behind me with extra snacks at bedtime worried that "skinny nurses didn't feed you enough". She was known for giving her patients a real back rub before she "shut" the light. Countless lowcountry mothers and babies have been sent home well loved because of Miss Hazel. It feels like the end of an era.

Sleep in on Monday Miss Hazel. You deserve it!

Sue Veon, Ginger Ballentine, Elnora Hazel and me.

Flowers? For me? Cool!

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

I coordinate mentoring for a lot of students on health career paths. I've been doing it for long enough that I can look around my co-workers and smile knowing how many of them started in my office.

It's very cool to watch people get their first real taste of what they want to do in life. I see that every day and it's all part of my master plan to make sure I have nurses, doctors and physical therapists who will pamper me and take good care of me when I am old and sick.

Summer is ending and it was fun to walk around checking on students who will be heading back to school soon. We tracked them down on surgical floors, ICU and coming out of last minute meetings with the nurse recruiter. We heard them talk about their day in surgery and watching a birth. Then, JD turned the tables on me and surprised me with flowers. Someone raised him right and since his Dad happens to be a Charleston blogger I thought I'd use his picture as my photo of the day. JD is returning to USC and is going to make a terrific physician.

SCRUBS Camp 2011

My baby health care providers are ready to graduate tomorrow afternoon. This is pretty much all I've done this week but it's been good. Whew. Deep breath! Today was a highlight with visits to the Operating Room and a ride in the ambulance. They have a graduation ceremony with parents and the CEO Friday afternoon. Fun.

I owe huge debts of gratitude to everyone who helped me pull this off! Picture me blowing kisses!

Slacker

I took a brain vacation yesterday. I couldn't make the thing work anyway, so I didn't have much choice.

Usually I work at my desk. I write stuff, move paper around, organize things and generally make myself look important to myself. But yesterday I could not figure out which paper went into which pile.

Coffee was no help. That brain would not apply itself to the meaningless crap I had to prioritize. So I left everything and went outside.

I repotted a plant. I swept the back porch. I chopped up the rosemary that's been taking over the back yard. (Hey! There's a passage around the side of the garage. I'd forgotten.)

At my desk once again, I moved a piece of paper. It didn't seem to be in the right pile.

So I went out for a cup of coffee. I took a note pad. I wrote things on it while I drank my coffee. It was the most work I got done all day.

It felt strange not to be my usual productive self. As most freelancers will tell you, when you work for yourself you work seven days a week, much more than 9 to 5. A day off is an anomaly. But I guess I needed it. It's a good thing my boss wasn't paying attention.

Pied Pieper of Joyful Music

Charleston, S.C.

Check out the energy and joy in these kids faces. The students from the West Ashley High School Special Education Choir entertained us at lunch yesterday. I don't even know the teacher's name but he was amazing, giving each student a chance to shine - sing or dance and then led them on a merry parade. It was such a happy event.

Nurses Week Festivities

Charleston, S.C.

The nurses at the Friendly Little Hospital across the River, hold a contest each year to Create a Nurse from supplies on hand. Check out bed pan head! You have to spend a little time close up and personal to realize the creative work that has gone into these new staff members.

Although they left these characters at their stations, the rest of the nurses gathered under the oaks in the garden this evening to celebrate earning Magnet Hospital credentialing. Woohoo! I do work with an impressive team.

I am NOT Incontinent!

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

I am going to keep loading you up with flower pictures for the time being.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that the hospital had asked me to participate in one of their commercials. I had done it before and it was fun. Last time I played the wife of a tv gentleman who had a rash on his arm. This time? I play Miss Incontinent Charleston. Yikes!

The spots are to start playing this month so I may as well give you a heads up. I know I will be hearing about this. People will probably lay down a towel before they let me sit. People - I am NOT incontinent! I am playing a role.

Here is the link:Commercials. Scroll down to Commercials and then select Burning Question #3. My only line is: "When I laugh, I leak!"

If you go to page 2 of the Commercials and choose "Need a Doctor Today" you can see the old one.

I am hoping that people will be so distracted by my long hair that they won't hear what I am saying. Right? Right?

Best Friends

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

I went to the funeral visitation of one of my gentleman volunteers this evening. He was such a nice man that I've been fascinated by him and the way he led his life.

JD and his wife Cat, have volunteered at the friendly little hospital across the river, every Monday afternoon for years on end. They were tiny people and each week they struggled across the parking lot carrying the giant floral arrangement from their Sunday church service so we could divide it into small bouquets. They didn't want there to be a patient in-house without fresh flowers in their room.

Every week they had lunch together in the hospital cafeteria before reporting for duty and I watched them talk - to each other, as if they were still getting to know each other. They worked together for four hours, answering the phones, giggling in between directing lost souls. They survived greater losses than should be asked of any parent, losing both of their adult children and it seemed to make them stronger and closer. Things are always more complicated than they appear but from my sideline view they appeared to have the example of what an ideal partner relationship should be.

The sad thing is that the better the relationship the more painful the loss. I am so sorry Cat. So sorry.

Lay Down the Towel

Charleston, S.C.

The folks in the marketing department at my hospital are known for coming up with some very creative ads. They have successfully used employees and often my volunteers as actors and models. I was in a tv spot last year examining the rash on the arm of my assigned tv husband and encouraging him to see a doctor.

It was fun! People recognized me and strangers offered to let me check rashes all over town. Heh. I've been handy for a few shots for senior programs mainly because of my white hair. I shouldn't have been surprised when the gals in marketing called laughing their heads off, saying they needed me for another commercial.

This spot is on awkward questions people have to ask their doctor. My theme? Yep. Incontinence. My only line was, "When I laugh, I leak!"

They had a great film crew working the shoot and decided to let down my hair. My hope is that people will be so distracted by my long hair that they won't hear what I am saying. Ya think?

Seriously, of course - there are awkward questions that people need to be able to ask their doctor. It is a clever idea for a spot and I wasn't the only person convinced to help out. My co-workers are going to get a kick out of this one and someone might actually get help.

Now, I am going to pile my hair back up on my head as usual and go for my walk.

Miss Charleston shares Valentine's Fun

I am always amazed at the delight a pretty girl with a tiara and sash can bring, but she does! Valarie Kobrovsky - Miss Charleston USA was an honorary volunteer at the hospital for Valentine's Day and I get such a kick out watching people brighten up and reach out to her. She graciously passed out candy treats (valentine fortune cookies), judged the cupcake contest, shared hugs and posed for pictures all over the hospital and she did it in three inch heels!

Thanks Valarie - you made a lot of people happy today. Valarie is nearing the end of her year long reign as Miss Charleston and we'll soon be seeing her as the Wrangler Jeans model. Thanks to Randall Dukes for making the connection for us!

National Go Red Day

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

I LOVE working with people who go along with my whacky ideas! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Visit the national Go Red day website for ideas on ways to stay healthy yourself and prevent heart disease.

The shoes off his feet

Charleston, S.C.

I keep a stash of used clothes in my office closet. I don't have much room but I have a pile of folded shirts, pants in a few different sizes and a bag of new men's underwear. There are a few relatively nice jackets.

Every once and a while I get a call from a nurse on one of the units, who is ready to discharge a patient who has no clothes. Things happen. People land in the hospital after the most unusual circumstances.

Last year I got the call and carried up a selection for them to choose from. I had a beautiful black leather jacket and I was secretly smug that I might be sending someone home in better clothes than they might have ever worn but the nurses shook their head and said, "What he needs is shoes. It's cold outside and we can't send him home with bare feet."

Shoes?! I didn't have any shoes. What the heck? I was going to ask one of my volunteers to make a trip to Walmart when Dr. Rosen walked by. He heard the conversation and said, "He can have mine. He can have my shoes but I have to finish rounds first." And that is what we did.

Now, every so often the shoe fairy leaves a bag by my door. Dr. Rosen is a runner and wears the tread off of perfectly good shoes. No one should go home from the hospital in bare feet.

I work with good people in the friendly little hospital across the river.

Lights, Camera...

When John came home and told me he'd seen inside our sewers, I had to go look. Woohoo! The Advanced Sewer Technology truck had appeared on our street like the Wells Fargo Wagon, spreading excitement, joy and sewer video.

Hey, this stuff doesn't happen every day.

The monitor in the upper left of the photo shows the main sewer line under my street. It's quite clean, considering.

The gentleman in the photo was handling cords and lines, making sure they didn't get stressed or caught up in anything. Another person on the truck operated the underground camera, which can go as far as 6,000 feet.

These guys were inspecting the main sewer line as well as lines to individual homes. The man I spoke to said the camera couldn't get through in some places because of tree roots. (Pasadena has a lot of trees.) Advanced Sewer Technology reports such glitches to the gas company, who hired them to look for gas pipes in the sewer tunnels.

To the workers and companies involved, this means safety and problem prevention. To me, this means there's a manhole on our block I hadn't noticed before. Strange how you can drive over something every day for five years and not know it's there.

(Meanwhile, my newest article is up on South Pasadena Patch: The Gabrielinos: Life at the Mission is second in a series.)

Fog in the Garden

Charleston, S.C.

John Prince asked in comments if I'd taken any fog pictures. He likely asked the question as I detoured through the hospital's meditation garden on my way in to work this morning. How lucky am I to work in a place like this?

Today is Volunteer Program Manager's Day. You didn't hear about it because we don't blow our own horns. We celebrated privately and took care of ourselves....volunteer managers from hospitals, aquariums, parks, outreach missions, food banks and senior centers...hundreds of thousands of hours of service flow through us in this town alone. So cheers to me and my hard working partners! Happy Volunteer Program Manager's Day!