Rachel B.
Hmm... I'm now 38, divorced, with no children ('cept my furr-baby). I hail from Indy and relocated with the 'rents to Tucson in '87. I come from the era of big hair and spandex (don't light a match), and still enjoy the music of the era. Somewhere along the way, I matured to a responsible and somewhat respectable adult, with an adolescent streak. It took me 10 years to take mom's advice, but I finally went to nursing school... I started as a hybrid housekeeper/nurse aid in a local hospital. I decided to do the CNA/PCT thing, then became an LPN. I worked in prisons and found I really enjoy the clientelle (you don't have to be nice if you're having a crappy day), and worked my way through my bachelor of science in nursing. Somewhere along the way, I lost my husband to my drive. Two years after graduating from my four year degree, I got some major brain malfunction and decided to get my masters - in one year, halfway across the country from home!!! So, I traipse back and forth from Vanderbilt every couple of months, then return home to my darkened bedroom where I live in denial of my looming deadlines.
A couple years ago, I convinced mom & dad to move in with me. Dad's had a couple of cerebral aneurysms, and quite frankly, I think I pose a good deterrent to mom suffocating him in the middle of the night sometimes. He's got all his faculties, but it's like living with Oscar the Grouch, but with a shorter fuse!! Mom and I are best of friends, i.e. we drive each other nutz! She's a class 1 worrier, and I frequently have to remind her that we are neither Catholic nor Jewish... I think she's finally resigned to grand-dogs.
My hopes in having the VSG are that I may be able to extend the quality years of my life, which of course relates directly to the work that I do all too much. Also, as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I believe it will allow me to help those seeking surgery, and help to advocate for acceptance of WLS by more members of the medical community.
I want to say that I greatly appreciate the wisdom of the folks on this board, taking this journey together. I have learned so much, and I hope to be able to learn so much more as mom and I take this journey together, as sleeve-sista's!
More of my looney rantings to follow!
Rach
