instepwithcolleen

Appreciation For What You Have In Life

I was talking with a young man the other day. He was cynical way beyond his mere nineteen years. He stood looking at me defiantly, as I asked him if he wanted to hold his son, Benjamin. His hands dug deeper into his baggy jeans pockets, and he shook his head “No”.

There were two friends who had come with Dad. I had ridden up the elevator with them, as an anonymous unknown. I listened to their snickered comments about what Daddy’s present pregnant girl friend was going to think when she found out. One poked Dad and in a joking way said’ “Yeah, but if one gives you crap, you can always go to the other to get a little honey. You know, play it. man.” At that point I exited the elevator.

The elevator doors closed and I knew that somewhere on the next floor up, some young fifteen year old, who didn’t have a clue what being a Mother entailed, had just joined the ranks of that oldest of callings. I felt disheartened to think of what the end results were going to be for this family group.

The elevator experience was the first encounter I had with this family.

Once I got to the intensive care unit I was introduced to the youngest member of this “family”, a cute little fellow with thick curly hair, swaddled tightly, to keep him from scratching his eyes out, screeching at the top of his lungs. His nurse had just given him his dose of morphine, and it would be about twenty minutes before he would get some relief for the withdrawals he was going through.

If my encounter in the elevator was disheartening, meeting Mom took my spirits down a few levels lower. At fifteen, Mom had advanced in her drug career at an above average rate. From “huffing” inhalants, “Sniffing” glue, smoking pot, using heroin and when she couldn’t afford that resorting to cheap, and easy to get meth. She’d had her first STD by the time she was thirteen. Her first abortion by fourteen, done her first trick for drugs a week before her fourteenth birthday, and had finally arrived here, looking at her first child going through withdrawals.

Trying to remain professional and non judgmental is not easy, even if you have been in nursing as long as I have. Yes, there is anger at the mother. Anger at the Father. Anger at the drug dealer. Anger at the Drug cartel. Anger at a system that is so accommodating to a parent that brings an innocent Benjamin into the world as a drug baby.

A few months after Benjamin went home with his parents, we learned that he died in a fire. His parents had set the fire while they were high on drugs. Anger and bitterness is what was felt when they were charged with negligent homicide instead of murder in the first degree. They didn’t get life, they got prison for three to five years, then they’d be up for parole. Life just doesn’t seem fair, does it?

So, when you get the urge to think life is REALLY overwhelming, think of little Benjamin. Most of us never realize just how much we have to be grateful for in our own lives. We walk through life and enjoy our friends and family. We watch the changing of the seasons. We are given much, and we can give much.

My last words are these, embrace every moment you have, and don’t ever forget the debt of gratitude you owe for the life you have. Just something to think about. Until later…Colleen

YOUR OPINION – Let us know if you liked this article, and whether you agree or disagree with it. Provide your comments here. This is an article I provided from my Husband’s newsletter site @ lelandpulleycompany.com. Stop by and see some of the regular articles provided. Remember, If you have any questions, dont forget to drop a note. Colleen