December 15, 2008 is the Day

December 15, 2008 at 7AM is the date and time that Addy will have her endoscopy to confirm or rule out Celiac Disease. She will have this done at Phoenix Children's Hospital. I beg everyone to continue with your prayers. Please do not give up now. We have ten days to go. "Dear Jesus, please rain your healing mercy upon our precious, Adalyne Erin Rose"

Christmas Prayer

Adalyne is my third grandchild, and the first child of my only daughter. I remember the day that Wendy told me she was pregnant. She called me at work. I remember feeling all warm and fuzzy at this wonderful news. It is funny the things that you think about when one gets this kind of happy news. I immediately went into my mode of deciding what would be necessary for this new situation.

Soon into her pregnancy, it was discovered that Wendy had a grapefruit size tumor on her left ovary. She had major abdominal surgery at just 13 weeks into her pregnancy. I remember thinking that the baby would not make it through this operation. However, the day after the surgery an ultra sound proved that the baby’s heart was still beating. Both my daughter and my soon to be grandchild appeared to be doing just fine. I remember feeling so relieved.

Wendy delivered Adalyne early at 36 weeks on July 2, 2003 . Again, my daughter and granddaughter appeared to be just fine. I was so relieved.

I remember Addy's first birthday, her first steps, and her first Christmas. Then two weeks after we had celebrated her second birthday, panic. Adalyne came very close to loosing her life when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I started to relax once Addy came home from the hospital. Again, I was so relieved that her life was spared.

Two weeks ago while I was in Baltimore, I received another call from Wendy. This phone call was another one that put complete panic in my being. Addy had been tested for Celiac Disease, and the test was positive. Celiac Disease is an autoimmune illness in which the body cannot metabolize wheat glutton. What does that mean? It means that she can never again have anything that includes wheat or oats. Think about that. Try to come up with 10 things from the grain food group that does not contain wheat or oats.

Addy wears an insulin pump and endures blood sugar checks every three hours. Our family has adjusted to her sugar highs and lows. Addy has adjusted to her diabetic diet. Now, Addy's life may change again.

Addy will have a special test called an endoscopy. This test will confirm if Addy does indeed have Celiac Disease. I am asking everyone who knows our family, or who should happen across this blog to pray for Adalyne. Pray that she will be negative for Celiac Disease.

"Forgive me, dear Jesus for being weak. I am very frightened. My sweet Adalyne has been through so much in her very young life. I am grateful that you have blessed us with her sweet, precious life. Please put your arms around Addy and protect her during this fearful time. If it is your will, please spare her from the diagnosis of Celiac Disease. Dear Lord, please give our family strength and Addy courage. In you, we place our trust. In you, we place our hope. In your Holy Name I pray, Amen."

Are You Naughty or Nice?

I have been a Registered Nurse since 1972. I have worked in almost every area of nursing other than the ER, PACU and ICU. There is an ugly untold story about the profession of nursing. It is called Lateral Workplace Violence. Another word is bullying. The nursing profession is filled with nurse bullys. Nurse on Nurse bullying is so pervasive that the American Nurses Association and the Center for American Nurses have both come out with policy statements and professional resolutions concerning nurse on nurse bullying. These professional organizations have stated that a zero tolerance level shall be adopted in all workplaces in which nurses are employed.

Why do I care about this subject? I care because I have been a target of this abusive behavior. I was subject to intimidating behaviors such as condescending language, anger outbursts, mobbing, and threats of physical harm. My response to this behavior was not only emotional, but also physical. And, I couldn't believe it was happening. Especially by people who espoused to be my friends and contemporaries.

The Joint Commission recently issued new standards for hospitals to address workplace bullying. The American Nurses Association established a Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements which mandates that registered nurses: Respect the inherent worth, dignity, and human rights of every individual; maintain compassionate and caring relationships with colleagues with a commitment to the fair treatment of individuals, and that all nursing personel shall have the right to work in healthy work environments free of abusive behavior such as bullying, hostility, lateral abuse, intimidation and abuse of authority.

Being bullied is distructive. It makes no difference if you are a child being bullied on the playground or an adult being bullied in the workplace. It is devastating. Therefore, in the spirit of this Christmas season, I plead to all nurses to become kinder to each other and to refrain from contributing to this type of debilitating behavior. It is important because bully behavior always has an irreversible negative outcome for the perpetrator and to the target.

To all Nurses, I wish you peace.

Matthew 5:44 "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."