Love Small - and Often

Events of all kinds can motivate us, quite literally that can move us.  The good, the bad and the tragic times we witness and endure cause us to reflect on who we are, what we believe and how we will react.  It’s been the rapid degrading of my cousin Alan’s health that has had me reflecting and reacting lately.  I’ve written about it several times already.  Tonight’s story continues in the theme of love and kindness.

Seeing the compassionate care of Alan by family and nurses alike has caused me to remember similar treatment I’ve received. The most recent experience dates back to December of 2016 and continued into March (I think.) when my liver acted up and I need to visit VCU – the hospital in Richmond, VA where I had my liver transplant back in 2005.

There were several people that made my repeated treatments with the Interventional Radiology (IR) group  over the period of months much more bearable.  From Derrek in Registration to the Nurse Practitioner Beverly and two nurses – Amy and Jasmine, they shared the qualities of being skilled and compassionate.  I’ll refer to them as  “my team.”

VCU has a Daisy Award where patients can write a short note to nominate people, usually nurses, that extend extra effort and care.  I submitted a note nominating my team, but not being sure that it would be awarded , I gave each team member a card directly my last visits. It was a small thing just so they knew how much their compassion, smiles and hand holding meant to me.

Reflecting on Alan made me think of my team.  Life is too short and too often the world is seen to be too ugly – at least if you watch the news.  This shouldn’t be the case and it dawns on me that it might take just a short note or simple thank you to make someone’s day.  I wanted to write another short note to my team letting them know that I still remember their kindness today.  The problem was that I didn’t know their last names to address a card.  I searched the VCU website and still couldn’t locate them.

I ended up calling the IR desk this morning to find out how to send a card.  Wouldn’t you know that Amy happened to answer the phone.  Here’s the crazy part, I learned that Amy had just yesterday been talking about me.  She’s getting a Daisy award, and as best she can tell it is likely based on the note I wrote so long ago.  After explaining why I called and getting a name and address so I could mail my card, we had a short conversation.  I learned that she framed the card I had given her and it resides in her home office.  She said on hard days she returns home and that quick card I wrote reminds her of why she continues to be a nurse.

It didn’t take a lot of effort to write the note and submit  it for consideration for the Daisy Award, nor did it take much time to write a short card.  Yet it warms my heart that that miniscule gesture has had a lasting impact, just as my team has had a lasting impact on me.

The other day I wrote:  Pray hard. Play hard. Love Harder.

Perhaps it turns out that it’s not loving harder that’s needed, but it’s really,  Love in small ways. And those small ways are really huge after all.  So when you trek through life’s events, whether they be gentle, subtle, major or tragic, take time to reflect.  Even more, take time, just a small amount of time, to react in a small loving way.  A little note can be a huge pick me up.  A kind word could make someone’s day.

I may have known this to some degree.  I have to say, though, that It’s been my observation of the love of Alan’s family and friends as well as witnessing the compassion of his nurses, that has strengthened my belief in the power of small gestures.

Rest easy Alan, rest easy.

To the rest of us I say; Love Small – and often.