Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Tonight's picture was taken in Mattie's hospital room. This picture was taken most likely in November, after Mattie's two major limb salvaging surgeries. I can tell because of the way Mattie's right hand looks, the fact that his left hand was all wrapped up, and that he was wearing his velcro pants that I bought him to make dressing easier post-surgery. Sitting right next to Mattie was Tricia. Tricia was one of Mattie's outstanding nurses. We met Tricia early on in Mattie's treatment process, and as the weeks continued on, she became a vital part of our hospital family. Tricia is the nurse that would bring me hot tea, Peter coffee and clean towels to shower with, and who shared aspects of her life with us to help us feel connected to the outside world. Tricia listened to our concerns, shared our fears, and most of all understood and appreciated Mattie. Mattie felt Tricia's kindness and care and one day while he was coming back from the Childlife Playroom into the PICU, he shouted out for Tricia. When she came over, he told her he loved her. Which was high praises coming from Mattie, since he did not give his love away easily. I saw many sides of Tricia over a 15 month time span. She can be funny, fun loving, and humorous. But she is also HIGHLY competent, no nonsense and can easily put a doctor in his/her place. Her priority is patient care and she never gets confused about that fact, regardless of the medical hierarchy that so clearly exists within a hospital setting. Though Mattie is no longer part of our lives, Tricia remains with us. She is a faithful blog reader, and she and her children participate in our annual Foundation Walk. There are so many times I wonder why Mattie developed cancer and died. It is a heartache of grand proportion, yet in the midst of this devastation, he has introduced and connected us to people who will always be firmly in my heart and a part of my life.

Quote of the day: Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief. ~ Cicero

I began my day by being unable to get out of bed. The three hour time difference and yesterday's flight knocked me out. However, as I began checking my Blackberry I could see that Linda (Mattie's childlife specialist) sent me a message. In the message, she asked me if I heard the news from Tricia (Mattie's nurse). Linda let me know the good news.... that Tricia was a semifinalist in Johnson and Johnson's Amazing Nurse Contest. 

Before I went away to Los Angeles on September 10, I came across a contest on line through Johnson and Johnson. As I read about the contest and its prize, I decided to submit an amazing nurse application. Peter will attest to this, I had a very hard time writing the 300 word essay on Tricia (since being verbose is one of my strong suits) and then once I wrote it, I had a CHALLENGING time actually submitting the application on line. Each time I tried sending it, it failed to go through. Finally with Peter's help, on the fifth attempt, the application went through! However, I never heard from Johnson and Johnson after submitting the application. Well that is until Linda and Tricia emailed me today. Somehow receiving the news about Tricia jump started my day and put me in a better frame of mind. Mattie would have wanted Tricia to be acknowledged in this way.

Tricia told me that Johnson and Johnson called her a day ago to let her know that she is one the the 20 semifinalists in this contest. Twenty semifinalists were selected out of 1200 applications!!!! Amazing and yet considering who I was writing about, not surprising. However I will need YOUR help to qualify Tricia as one of the five finalists. Once the finalists are selected they will then be judged by Johnson and Johnson and only one will then receive the grand prize which is an all expense trip (4 days/3 nights) for two to Los Angeles and two VIP tickets to attend CNN Heroes: All Star Tribute live broadcast show. She would then be featured in a TV commercial sponsored by Johnson and Johnson. 

How can you help? It isn't complicated or time consuming, all you have to do is vote for Tricia on line. It is VERY simple. The five finalists are selected (from the 20 semifinalists) based on the number of total votes received. Those five with the MOST votes, become the finalists and have a chance at winning this contest. Johnson and Johnson allows each voter to vote multiple times for Tricia. The only catch is you can only vote ONCE a day. Which is why each day for the next month, I will greet you on the blog with the same question. The question will be..... Have you voted for Tricia today? Following the question, I will then post the link that will take you directly to the voting site.

Your vote counts and your participation is needed. Though there isn't anything we can tangibly do for Mattie now, I do consider voting for Tricia as your way of remembering Mattie and honoring the cancer battle he endured. Click on the link in blue, find Tricia's name (Patricia Grusholt) and then click on it and vote. Please tell your friends and family about this contest and also consider using all the computers in your home to vote. I used my desk top and my lap top, and therefore voted twice today!!!!
http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/157336/voteable_entries

I want to share a portion of the email I received today from Tricia regarding this exciting news. She wrote, "I want to tell you how very humbled I feel that you have nominated me for the Johnson & Johnson nurses competition....it is an amazing honor!!! I received a call from them the other day to tell me that I was 1 of the 20 semi-finalists from ~ 1200 nominations nationwide. The gentleman was telling me that nationwide voting starts 9/27/11 through 10/25/11 and he encouraged me to network for myself, telling people they can vote everyday throughout those dates. So, I am letting you know because I knew you would support me with gaining more votes. I have already planned that if I were to win you and I could go to the CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute in L.A., visit your parents and the L.A. Cappuccinos and I would ask the JNJ people if we could do the commercial in honor of Mattie and all pediatric cancer patients to support the foundation in raising pediatric cancer awareness and help with funding and research for these brave children. That would truly be amazing!"

When I shared the news with my mom, she was also elated and wrote, "Congratulations on making a difference by taking the time and using your talent to bring Tricia's contribution to cancer stricken children to the attention of JNJ. I have seen Tricia in action and know that she went beyond the call of duty to care for Mattie while he was in treatment at GUH while never forgetting that he had the heart and soul of a little boy who needed love and diversion to deal with the limitations imposed by his affliction with bone cancer. When she entered his room, it was always with a smile and a sense of humor which brought out the best in Mattie and got him through some dark and difficult days. Her compassion came from the heart and Mattie, sensitive and discriminating as he was by nature, knew he could trust her and allowed her to make "deals" with him to accept unpleasant treatments when he was inclined not to cooperate. She was aware of the psychological ramifications of cancer and realized that including him in the decision making process gave him a sense of control over his terrible situation. Mattie was strong willed and needed "to be heard." Tricia did just that each and every day she was with him and kept him happy by laughing at his antics and encouraging his artistry. When I go to vote on election day, I only wish I could vote multiple times but alas am limited to one vote. In Tricia's case, I can unleash that passion and it will give me joy to vote for her over and over again. I will urge everyone I know to do the same thing!! Tricia deserves the award and the honor inherent in being the chosen one!!"