's MOTD Tues. May 22, 2007

[Guest guest]

's Daily Message TuesdayMay 22, 2007R.N.

I love nurses and I always have.

When I was a kid, my doctor`s name was Dr. Veith. I just loved him, too. His nurse`s name was Donna. She wore a starched, crisp white uniform and she always looked immaculately fresh. She even worse a little flower in her uniform`s lapel.

Whenever I came into the office, she`d always give me a big hug. And before I left, she`d give me ten lollipops to take with me. (No wonder I was a fat kid. LOL!)

When my father was very sick in the hospital, there was a very young nurse who took such good care of him. Her name was .

Once, while I was visiting him, came into the room. My father was really not doing so well that day. kissed him on his forehead and sang a little song to him that her mother used to sing to her. And within just a few short minutes, my father was peacefully asleep.

Today, when I visit my doctor here in Los Angeles, one of the reasons I enjoy those visits so much is because of his nurse, Barbara. No, she doesn`t give me ten lollipops but she does do a quick little rumba with me in the hallway!

Like I said, nurses mean a lot to me. It`s a difficult and, more often than not, stressful vocation. It`s a great calling to become a nurse. It takes a special, strong and determined person.

It takes a person like Pamela, from Illinois. She was a late-bloomer to the nursing profession.

Pamela was in her mid-30`s when she became a nurse. She always knew that she wanted to help people but hadn`t decided which career-path to pursue in order to fulfill her desire. But she discovered that nursing was truly the way for her to go.

When I spoke to Pamela, she told me the story of her husband. He was very supportive of her decision to become a nurse but little did he know that, one day, she would become a nurse for him, too.

During their marriage, Pamela`s husband became ill with cancer and was very sick for five years. When Pamela was not at the hospital working, she was taking care of her husband at home. He was very weak and, some days, really did not want to eat. He told Pamela that his appetite was better when she would eat with him.

More than happy to help her husband eat better, Pamela did begin eating with him but, in the process, she got up to 270 pounds!

Pamela was with her husband holding his hand, the day he took his last breath. And after he took that last breath, she could at least be comforted by the look of peace on his face. That calmness on his face helped Pamela feel more peaceful, too.

That`s when Pamela decided it was time to add another kind of peace to her life, by losing the weight she`d gained.

She had a copy of my Silver Foxes video and used it faithfully, everyday. She cut down on her eating and made healthier choices when it came to what she ate, too. Pamela has now gone from 270 down to 179 pounds. That`s right, 91 pounds...gone!

She`s also gone from a size 28 to a size 14 and wants to lose another 20 pounds to reach her goal. Pamela is 54 years-old now and she knows, everyday, that her husband is watching over her and proud of her success.

Even better, Pamela now uses her free time to talk with other obese nurses and offers them the hope and help they need to lose weight. Is that Pamela a great gal, or what?

Pamela, I know you`ll lose those last 20 pounds and I know you`ll always be there as a shining example for other nurses to follow, too.

Are you a nurse? Do you give from your heart and soul to your patients everyday? Are you coming home so tired that you just want to eat then go to bed. Have you gained weight? Are you suffering with bad feet, bad knees or a bad back?

Well, if you are, do what Pamela did and become a good nurse to yourself!

Love,