Something That Touched My Heart Today

I work fulltime (seventy plus hours a week) as a professional writer and editor, and today happened to be one of my stressful days as i had alot of catching up to do. Anyway, I had an assignment from my company to write about coping with a terminal illness. It is a subject that I had deeply enjoyed since it relates to my interest in caring for people. i have alot of caregiver experience which naturally made this writing topic one of deep passion!

As I was doing my research for the assignment, I came across something that I will never forget. It changed my life and reinforced my values of caring for people. It was an interview that a nurse conducted with an HIV infected woman, and the woman had some very powerful words to say to that nurse. Check out the article below;


Tuesday, November 14, 2000
The Importance of a Human Touch
By Megan Baird

I’m scared. Right now I am 21 years old, a senior in college, six months pregnant and one year ago I found out I am HIV-positive.

I know what I just told you made you uneasy. I know it made me uneasy to say it. How would you respond if someone told you this? How would it make you feel?
This person could be anyone. She could be a friend, a neighbor, a colleague or even a relative. Two years ago she was my patient. Let me tell you how I
responded.

It was my first interview with a patient, and I must admit that I was nervous, very nervous. I didn’t want her to know this was my first interview and I
was unsure of myself. I took a deep breath and called her in. Her name was Jennifer.

I tried to be as professional as I could during the course of the interview. When she told me she was HIV- positive and pregnant, I quickly wrote down the
information and attempted to be unaffected by her response. My mind was racing, and I found it difficult to concentrate. I had so many concerns for her.
How was she dealing with her diagnosis? Was she scared? I tried to shake these thoughts from my head. I had an interview to conduct. I needed to be strong
and confident and not let Jennifer see my weaknesses.

In the middle of my questions, she stopped me. She looked at my name tag and asked, “Megan, why didn’t you tell me how you felt when I told you I had HIV?
Why didn’t you respond?” I was shocked. I didn’t know what to say. I slowly put down my clipboard, looked up at her and asked, “How does it make you feel?”

She told me she was scared — very scared. She said she felt very alone sometimes and she was afraid of what her future held. She had dreams of becoming
a lawyer but was devastated when she found out she was HIV-positive. She was worried about how people would treat her, and, most importantly, she was concerned
for the health of her unborn child.

I told her how I felt when she told me — how I had wanted to comfort her but that I was afraid to be unprofessional.

It was then that she told me something I will never forget — something that has changed my approach to nursing and given new meaning to the career path
I have chosen. She said, “Megan, never grow cold to your patients’ needs. That’s how many doctors and nurses deal with the emotional strain that comes
with caring for people. They find the stress and heartache too difficult to handle and eventually grow numb to it in an attempt to cope. Don’t ever let
this happen to you. I am not just a disease, not just a check on a piece of paper, not just a diagnosis. I am a person. My illness cannot just be treated
with medicine; it must also be treated with tenderness and compassion. I am just like you. I have hopes and dreams just like you do. I know that you get
scared and hurt just like I do. Only when you realize this will you truly be able to care for, heal and help people.”

When the interview was over I wished her luck and thanked her. She then turned to me and said, “You are going to be an amazing nurse someday, Megan.”

I came to Georgetown to become a nurse and became a better person. Some of the most rewarding moments of my college education have occurred when the books
are closed, and I am face to face with another person. Through these encounters, I have learned to be comfortable with my own emotions and responses. In
sharing this personal part of myself with other people, I am beginning to understand how vulnerability can lead to strength and not weakness. My exchanges
have not been one-sided, and I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to listen to others and share their journeys with them. This shared experience
has helped me to recognize the person in myself and the person in those around me.

At the end of May this year, the members of the senior class will leave Georgetown with degrees in hand. But these degrees are a testament to only part
of the education available here. There is not a certificate symbolizing what I have learned from my family, friends, patients, teachers and the strangers
who have changed my life with one brief encounter. These people have made me a better person, and I wish I could thank them all. Maybe I am not the one
who deserves the certificate of achievement, but then again, maybe I am their reward.

Megan Baird is a senior in the School of Nursing.

http://www.thehoya.com/viewpoint/111400/view2.htm

Please people, always remember this. It is something that should never be forgotten. The vulnerable (those who are special needs, mentally retarded, or invalid), the sick, and the dying need you. Let's not be so quick to forget that. One day, you will need someone. That's how it always happens, isn't it? I feel extremely rewarded helping, giving to, and caring for others. Yes, it can be draining to the point that all energy is zapped, and it can feel like the end of the world sometimes: however, nothing--no matter the richest accomplishment, the biggest reward, or the greatest gift--could replace the experience of making another's day by imparting to such a vulnerable soul that you are always there and dearly love them.

How To Change An Adult's Diaper

I bet you are looking at this post right now wondering why in the world I'd want to write about a topic like this. Well, this is something important for many people--more than many think.

All too often, the caregiver will surf the web looking for the best way to do things for the one in which they are caring for. They want to learn how to perform certain tasks but don't know who to go to for answers: or, they feel too embarrassed to ask. Sometimes, caught in the moment of stress, they may not know what they are even looking for or where to find it.

One touchy topic that is unfortunately taboo is changing the diaper of an adult. And, being that it is taboo, it makes it hard for anyone needing help to want to seek it. Those who we will refer to as Adult babies--people wanting to be treated like a baby to the point of diapering but with some sexual involvement which doesn't make a hill of sense to me--also put those needing diapers or caring for ones needing them in a bad position because their deranged behavior adds to the taboo in my opinion.

Inadition to that, society also puts into our heads that if one needs diapers, they are babyish. It also has us to think that diapers are for the old grannies. So, if one doesn't fit into those two classifications, they are taboo. However, the stigma leans more towards diapers being for babies which, in my opinion, is one that totally needs to be done away with. And, because of this stigma of diapers being for babies, when the average caregiver surfs the net for information on diaper changing, curing diaper rash for an adult, and things of that nature, they will more than likely find things having to do with babies. That is not helpful now is it? So, this is the reason I have decided to write this post. Below, will be a step by step guide on how to change the diaper of an adult whether the one should be mentally retarded, physically disabled, or just an elderly person going through the average aging process who needs care. Note that this can also apply for older children who are mentally retarded or handicap.

What You Need

A Clean Diaper
Tub Or Pack of Wipes (Don't just bring one or two to the changing because you never know how much you'll need, especially if the person has messed himself.)
Baby Powder (This is not necessary: but, it is a great help for preventing rash and taking away oder as well as keeping the area dry. Diapers cause that area to sweat, and just as baby powder is used in shoes for feet, it is also best used in this area for the same reason. Of course when the diaper is wet, it means nothing than: but, it makes the wearer comfortable in the meantime.)
Trash can (This is to easily dispose of things during the change. You won't have to worry about cleaning up afterwards. That is a pain in the butt anyway.)
Barrier cream such as desitin or A&D Ointment (It is not necessary but if applied with each change, it aids in preventing diaper rash. It should also be used to treat a diaper rash when one is present. Then, these creams DO become necessary. But, as a rule of thumb, you should always have them on hand.)
A Towel (This is to collect anything that were to come from the diaper. A Blue pad also known as a chuck can also be used. However, since they are disposable and can't be reused, they cost much more. A towel can be rewashed. But, the choice is yours.)

Here Is What You Do

1. Make sure you have all of your supplies within arms reach. There is nothing worse than being unprepared, especially for a task like this one.
2. Get the person lying in the bed, on a changing table, or on the floor. Whatever is comfortable for you. (If the person is full sized and unable to walk or get up from the floor on his own, then the bed or changing table--if you have one--is the best way to go. However, if the person suffers mental retardation and is capable of getting up fluidly and is physically fine, or the person is smaller in stature, then the floor is fine to use. There is nothing more back breaking than having to pick a full sized person from off the floor when he can't walk or support himself.)
3. Remove the person's pants completely not just pulling it down to the ankles. Make sure all clothing is out of the way as well as all blankets if you are using the bed. You don't want anything to get on them causing you to work harder by doing more laundry.
4. Undo the tapes of the diaper and pull it back. Don't take it out from under the person since it could be useful for collecting waste during the change if the one you are changing should have an accident.
5. Take your forearm and put it behind the knees pushing them almost to the chest. This will raise them up allowing you to clean them more affectively.
6. Wipe them from front to back. This is especially crucial for girls. And, don't quit until they are completely clean. Put the wipes into the older diaper that is beneath them as you wipe.
7. Fold up the old diaper and put it in the trash can next to you using one hand as you keep them held up behind the knees with your forearm. If you feel you need two hands to fold up the diaper, take it out from under them, let them lay on the towel, fold up the diaper, and put it in the trash.
8. Now, lift them up by putting your forearm behind the knees again and put the clean diaper under them. The part of the diaper with the tapes should be in back. Make sure the back of the diaper goes above their talebone a couple of inches..
9. Let them down to lay on the diaper. It is now that you can apply the baby powder and cream to them.
10. Pull the diaper up between their legs and fasten the tapes on each side. Make sure the diaper is snug and comfortable.
11. Put back on the clothing you removed.

Now, there you have it. You have accomplished the task.