International Nurses Day

I remember my mom saying after a lengthy stay in the hospital that it's really the nurses who run the place.  They're the ones who spend the most time with the patients, tend to their needs and keep them comfortable.  Sure her doctors were renowned in their fields, and we were all thankful she was in their care, but in her eyes, they just waltzed into her room once a day for a minutes-long visit.  When she needed something, it was the nurses who were by her side.

For Kiera, there was also a very special team of nurses by her side.  Before we even knew of our daughter's existence, the nurses of the Labor and Delivery and Neonatal units were there to hold her, feed her, bathe her and swaddle her in her first months of life.  They played with her and doted on her.  They took her bassinet to the roof of the hospital to let her sunbathe as a remedy for jaundice.  They named her, but mostly called her by their nickname for her, which translated to "lovely girl".  They were sad when our daughter had to leave and sent her off with fanfare.

I'm sure they assumed they would never learn what would become of their Meng Meng, the lovely girl they had taken care of with whatever time they could spare on top of their usual round of patients.  It was a thankless job they did out of the dedication to their profession and as human beings. 

Three years later they finally got word that taking care of their unofficial little patient had a happy ending.  Meng Meng had a family.  She was happy, healthy and loved. 

Kelly, one of the nurses from the hospital who I've gotten to know over e-mails and WeChat, made a video of Kiera's story for International Nurses Day.  She wanted to celebrate the important work she and her fellow nurses do and thought Kiera's story was an inspiration.

The hospital where Kiera was born played the video for the hospital staff on International Nurses Day. The video got a wider audience when it was played for nursing students at Kelly's alma mater and, even more so, when it was entered in an International Nurses Day video contest in Guangdong province (and received the most votes!).

I'm glad Kelly and her colleagues finally got the attention they deserved. I'm also glad I was able to thank them.