International health issues and humanitarian efforts – Page 11

The United States observes National Nurses’ Week every year in May; it is well deserved.

National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

two hospital personnel working with patients' records at a nurse’s station. — Few nurses wear white uniforms or caps now. And most hospitals and clinics have digital medical records. But this is how medical care was done for many years. Photo credit Bob Sanders, used compliments of the Centers for Disease Control, CDC

collage of nurses working with patients in a mission clinic — CompassionLink medical mission trip- nurses on our team work with patients in Panama

I am a physician because of a nurse. As a child I was interested in health care and decided to become a nurse- that’s what girls did in the 1970’s. I needed advice so I talked to the nurse at my high school about her career.

After answering my questions, she looked straight at me and said, “Aletha, have you thought about going to medical school?” Until that time, I had not. But from that suggestion my path changed and grew into a medical career .

Some of my best friends have been and are nurses. They understand my crazy life. Since the majority of nurses are women, we have that common bond; they understand juggling a career with marriage and motherhood.

a doctor and nurse talk to a patient in an Asian country. — A local nurse assisted me with a patient encounter in Thailand

Unfortunately, nursing, like medical practice, has become heavy on documentation. I hear my nurse friends lament the amount of time they spend charting at a computer instead of caring at the bedside.

The American health care system is changing in ways sometimes characterized as an overhaul- payment reform, new delivery methods, quality measurements, patient engagement are all buzzwords now. But one thing hasn’t changed.

There are still women and men who choose to become nurses, not for a lucrative salary, or a convenient work schedule, but because they want to make a difference in the world, one patient at a time. For that, we offer our appreciation and respect.

Heart and Soul- The Story of Florence Nightingale

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE by Sony Pictures

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Why not thank a nurse today? They truly embody the

HEART of health.

Please share this post. Thanks. Dr. Aletha

My husband Raymond and I have had the honor and pleasure of knowing Bob Peragallo and his wife for several years. He is the Board Chairman for Vets With a Mission (VWAM) , a faith based humanitarian organization; we have served with them on mission trips to VietNam.

Like my husband, Bob is a veteran of the American war in Vietnam. After his military service, he pastored a church. Here he shares his thoughts on pastoring, leading a service organization, and serving people in need. Words worth sharing

two veterans in Vietnam — Raymond Oglesby, Bob Peragallo and local officials at Trabong Vietnam

“Often people come to me searching for something deeper than a 500 character religious platitude, something stronger than a scripture icon or soundbyte. Like them, I need something I can touch, see and feel. What we need is love because only love can satisfy us.

When this need happens for me, I never want to have to walk away empty handed or when it is my turn to be the giver of this love, God help me to never give them a substitute.

We all believe in love, but often we love the idea of love, when it needs to be our job description. God declares Himself to be “Love” and He is, but it doesn’t always run in the family. Far too often, our lives become a poor substitute for the Jesus that the world is looking to see. If I lose my focus, I may give a poor substitute for this kind of love.

As someone who has received this love from my heavenly Father, I should always err on the side of loving people.

Dr. Aletha treating a Vietnamese woman

Kids always love bubbles

Raymond making friends and having fun with some Vietnamese boys

VWAM CEO Chuck Ward, VietNam veteran, on a previous trip

volunteer team members dishing out love in Vietnam

We might give our religious form, our knowledge of God or worst yet, my version of what is right (oh, how I love to be right). We can dish out our political views, judgments and contempt, even silence. We all understand and can relate to this from personal experience…and we know how much it sucks.

The mistake we should never make is to be generous with judgment and stingy with love. The people around us are starving for love and we need to unlock our pantry and see to it that everybody gets a belly full.

That doesn’t mean you always tell them what they want to hear and that they are not accountable. Whenever I find myself in this tension with people, or if you do, always do your best to fill that gap with compassion, kindness and decency. When you need love nothing else will work. My job is to love others, not see to it that others love me. “