Saving Lives

There is a reason I am a school nurse. It isn't because I truly love puke or paperwork. It definitely isn't because I make a lot of money. I barely make more today than I did as a hospital nurse 25 years ago. It isn't because I like dealing with parents who refuse to be parents or responsible for their children. But today I was reminded why I do what I do when I received the following letter from a second grade boy. It said:

Dear Nurse,
Thank you for fixing my coat
you savd my life.
Other wis I wud be in big do do
I glad that did not hapin
Thank you!!!!!
vary!!much!!!!!!!!!

Now frankly I laughed and then I shed a tear or two. But it truly reminded me why I do my job. I do it for the kids. I do it for the little lives I save. See a few days ago he was sitting on a post when it was time to go in from recess. He jumped down, the post went up under the back of his coat and as he hit the ground running, the coat tore from the hem almost to the armpit through both the outside layer and the lining. When he brought it to me the stuffing was hanging out. He asked if I had some big safety pins or another coat he could borrow. I told him to come back when it was time for the next recess. When he returned, I had hand-stitched both layers of his coat back together. He was delighted, and I promptly forgot about it. Then today, after several weeks of intensely busy days with many very ill kids, he brought me this letter. He handed it to me and said, "this is for you for fixing my coat", and off he rushed back to class. He not only made my day, he made my week and many weeks to come since I intend to save that letter and reread it often. I need reminding that the little things I do can make a big difference and I can "save a life" and keep others out of "big do do". WOW!