The Quiet Heroes I’m Thankful For

What you feel thankful for can change from day to day, depending on your circumstances.

This Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful for home care nurses. Nine years ago, if you had asked me what a home care nurse was, I wouldn’t have had the slightest idea.

Today, they are often almost a lifeline for me. Because of home care nurses, I get to live a somewhat normal life.

Thank you, home care nurses.

I might not be able to have a normal job, but I am able to do something I love.

Thank you, home care nurses.

Back in March, because of home care nursing, Sam started an intensive therapy program that I believe has done wonders. Thank you OnTrackMN. If I’m being honest, he wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for home care nurses.

Thank you, home care nurses.

Three days a week a driver picks Sam and his nurse up to drive from our house to OnTrack which is an over thirty minute, twenty-file mile commute. There is absolutely no way, I would have Sam going that far if I had to send my nonverbal, medically complex child in a car alone with a stranger.

Thank you, home care nurses.

Sam’s had an amazing stretch of overall health. The longest he’s ever gone. The past few months have been a bit rough for him. In October, he came down with stomach bug that essentially haunted him for over two weeks. It began only three days before the biggest night of S3Kit’s year, our annual gala. Ugh…Sam. The back up plan consisted of one his home care nurses sitting in the hospital with him without any compensation. Thankfully we didn’t end up there and that particular nurse was then able to attend the gala like she originally planned. Because of home care nursing, Sam was able to be at home where he’s supposed to be that night.

Thank you, home care nurses.

Sam is currently struggling with some sort of respiratory bug. Tis the season. Each day he’s been sick, each nurse who has been scheduled has lightened our load tremendously. For this reason, most of my family was able to attend one of my dearest friend’s dad’s funeral. Rest in peace, Grandpa Jim.

Thank you, home care nurses.

What some or many of you may not know, these nurses take a significant pay cut deciding to be a home care nurse.

Thank you, home care nurses.

This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the quiet heroes who choose to take a pay cut to ease the burden on families caring for medically complex children at home, where they’re meant to be.

Thank you, home care nurses.