Upside down

Joel sold his business back in December, and we paid off almost all debts with the money. Now he works 2-4 hours a night instead of 12. I started working at Utah Valley Hospital not long after that. I work 12 hour shifts in the Stat lab, which is in the ER. Both events have been blessings for us, for many reasons(which is the usual for us when we get blessings of any kind.)

I am dusting off some rusty skills and using them with a new perspective. When I was young in the workplace, my job was all about me, my performance, and my benefits. Now, ten years later, things have definitely changed.

The first few weeks of working here were very raw. December/January with the snow and ice bring a lot of people to the ER, many in really bad shape. Utah Valley is a Trauma II hospital, which means we deal with the most serious cases in the Valley, and when the pager goes off in the lab, they're not kidding.

When a trauma comes in, we have to go to the room where the patient will be and stand by to receive any samples the team is getting. This means watching the EMT's roll the person in, and often seeing the frenzy as the team does what they do. And sometimes, it means watching someone slip away despite all the effort put in trying to keep them alive.

When I was younger, I hate to say it, but this would have been exciting-- not to see someone die, but all the drama that goes along with trying to save a life, and my part in it.

I'm glad I've grown up a little since then. It makes it easier to bear someone elses burden, even if it's only as I'm saying a little prayer for the family who is suffering. My part is very small, and I'm glad, because I can't offer the peace and comfort that comes from the place that calls them home.