Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2008. Next to Mattie is Tricia. Tricia was Mattie's favorite nurse. This is the kind of nurse Tricia is... she gets down on the floor and works with her patients. She wants to know them not as a number, but as a child! Which is why she is so successful with children and parents. 

I met Tricia the first week that Mattie began chemotherapy. It was within that first week, that I knew I was in the presence of a very special and unique professional. Why? Because Mattie was having a melt down about being in the hospital and adjusting to his diagnosis. He was mad at me! When Tricia entered the room to take Mattie's vitals, he was so upset that he was yelling, kicking me, and pushed me against the bathroom door. Tricia could have turned around and walked out of the room. But she didn't. Instead, she de-escalated a volatile situation. She told Mattie he did not mean what he was saying and that we were both tired. So she escorted us to Mattie's bed, put us in it, and tucked us in together. It was at that point I saw not only Tricia the nurse, but Tricia the mom and human being. I have countless number of stories about Tricia, as does Peter.... since she cared for ALL three of us. The true test though was one day Mattie was in the hallway of the pediatric intensive care unit and Mattie screamed out "Tricia." She came flying over thinking something was wrong. When she bent down to address Mattie, he told her "I love you." It was a very touching scene, and one I doubt Tricia has forgotten either. 



Quote of the day: Good friends help you to find important things when you have lost them - your smile, your hope, and your courage. ~ Doe Zantamata

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to go to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. However, right before going to the hospital, I attended a friend's Fall brunch at her home. The event was lovely, but always for me parties of any kind provide their own challenges. Mainly because when moms get together the conversation naturally unifies around children. I think that is absolutely normal and wonderful...... well unless you are a mom who lost a child to cancer. I walk a fine line because I don't want to be rude to those around me, and at the same time I have to make sure I am okay. Despite how ever I handle it, it lands up not going well for those around me or for me. 

So this was the state I was in when I entered MedStar Georgetown today. Peter and I have been requesting to push our Mattie Miracle Snack/Item Cart at the hospital for years. This year our request is being met and I am thrilled about it. It is very important for me to see the cart in operation and to meet the patients and families utilizing the cart. Pictured with me above are:
Jess (who was the first child life professional we funded and brought to Georgetown. We funded Jess for four years), Tricia, Vicki, and Jane (our philanthropy contact at Georgetown). 

I can attest to the fact that families were SUPER grateful for the cart today. Each one couldn't get over that the items were FREE and told me countless times what a lifesaver it is to them! One little boy did not find the candy he was looking for the cart, so I literally went to the hospital gift shop and bought it for him. 

Pushing the cart around was important for me as Mattie's mom and as a Foundation leader. Jane and I went into the PICU and I saw two nurses I know there and then of course I went into the hematology and oncology unit and ran into Tricia. Despite having an emotionally challenging day, when I am with Tricia, I am Mattie's mom. I don't have to pretend otherwise or sugar coat things. Mattie comes alive when I am with Tricia and it is safe to talk about him without worrying that I will upset her. We lived through Mattie's care together and Tricia was one of the nurses who told me honestly that Mattie was dying. 

Would pushing the snack cart have the same meaning today if I hadn't bumped into Tricia? That is a hard question to answer. I would have appreciated my role from a professional standpoint, but reconnecting with Tricia, helps me keep Mattie's memory alive and I can't even put into words or quantify how important that is to me.