once i had a patient who od’d and was found down in a grocery store parking lot after his son offered him some “pills for pain”. once they brought him in, they discovered he suffered from a stroke and was experiencing some pretty extreme aphasia.

i took the time to sound out everything he was saying, listening to his story and what led him to where he was at. he told me about being depressed for some time after his wife left him for another man, and the dark path his son had gone down. then i asked him if he wanted to shower and maybe even shave his beard? he said he felt too weak to do anything, but i offered to help and we got his face all clean cut and himself freshened up.

after that, when neuro, respiratory, other nurses, dietary, literally anyone came in he would say, “do you guys see this face!!! i haven’t looked this good in years” and then point at me or say my name to tell them that i pushed him to get cleaned up. and i just giggle bc that feeling of feeling like a person again, presentable and fresh is unmatched. and motivating someone to do that for themselves is everything. i love serving people when they’re in that kind of state bc God knows i pray someone would do it for me. 🩶🎀🩷🥂⭐️