I have been a Registered Nurse in the medical-surgical unit at Garfield Medical Center for almost 2 years. The majority of my nursing experiences have been with adult care, dealing multiple health care issues such as pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and various types of infections. I am currently a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at Vanguard University to further my clinical experiences and prior education for my patients and my personal growth.
Before working at Garfield Medical Center, I was hired as a private home health nurse for a bedridden patient, who is a 57 year old Vietnamese female with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on a ventilator and a gastrointestinal tube. I will name her Mrs. M. Her husband is currently her full time caregiver and they have no children. I didn’t know what to expect on day one with her and I have only learned about this disorder in my RN textbook. I have witnessed her muscles gradually atrophied beginning from her legs to her fingers. Yet, she remains optimistic and never gives up hope with her beautiful smile. She loves to watch cooking shows, scrapbook designing, and video making on her laptop. Although she can no longer move her fingers, she is training me to finish her scrapbook project by using the alphabet board. Once a visiting friend asked her if she has any last wishes, Mrs. M replied in writing with her usual grin, “I have everything that I could wish for.” At that moment, this job didn’t become just a job to me anymore; it was a commitment. She became family and an inspiration to me. That was four years ago and I still take care of her today. Mrs. M has been living with ALS for a total of 7 years and still counting. I dedicate this website to her.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 