The week of November 7th 2006
I've started this entry many times over the past month and I've decided no matter what it will be finished by morning.
This is a picture of April and her husband Brandon. I met April through the nursing program last year. Her mom has worked at UAH's nursing department since before April was born, so she practically grew up there and eventually decided that nursing was just the direction her life was leading her to. She already had a Spanish degree and wanted to be a nurse so she could use her skills for mission trips. She was great at it too, and she was always great at calming us down right before tests and practicals. She had just married her husband Brandon and you could tell she was so in love with that boy, her eyes still lit up and her speech got faster just when she talked about him.
Toward the end of fall semester it was obvious something was wrong. We would go out to eat and she would say she was so hungry, but after taking one bite she said she couldn't eat. After she got married she could no longer be on her parents' health insurance, and it took several months before she was covered again. In late March April was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It was a strange diagnosis because it's much more common in men (20:1 ratio) and usually it's men in their 50s and 60s after a lifetime of acid reflux damage. While I know cancer is not supposed to be taken lightly, April never suggested that her treatment wasn't going well, always stating that she'd be back with our nursing group in the fall.
Late in the summer though she stopped answering her cell phone, her husband saying that she was sleeping and that he'd take a message. During clinicals the day after her first wedding anniversary it was announced that her treatment was not working. Thankfully we were able to see her a lot after that, and she always had a smile on her face, still always so positive. She was Christian and very dedicated to her faith, I think that helped her keep her positive attitude. She even named her tumor Jezabel.
On Tuesday November 7th I got a voicemail from Jody after a long day at my OB/GYN clinical. April had passed away that morning. After visiting her house the day before, I have to admit I was hoping for it. She had become unresponsive and I knew that was the last thing she wanted.
I went to the wake and the funeral. I'm never sure what to say in those situations. I had talked to Brandon several times and I could tell he felt sad and awkward at the wake. He gave me a hug and I just told him I never know what to say for things like this, but that it wasn't really the words that mattered anyway. He just nodded. It was hard watching him walk behind her casket at the funeral.
She was a great friend and I still miss her. It's strange to think that someone my age could be that sick. I also feel weird that she figured out exactly what she wanted, she had her plan and then this happened. She was so passionate about being a nurse. And well, I'm honestly rather burned out and partially questioning why the hell I'm in nursing. Just doesn't feel right. It was great seeing how many people came to her funeral though, and how she touched so many people in the community after only 23 years.
It was after her funeral outside of Denny's that I found out my dad was in the hospital with heart complications...
This is a picture of April and her husband Brandon. I met April through the nursing program last year. Her mom has worked at UAH's nursing department since before April was born, so she practically grew up there and eventually decided that nursing was just the direction her life was leading her to. She already had a Spanish degree and wanted to be a nurse so she could use her skills for mission trips. She was great at it too, and she was always great at calming us down right before tests and practicals. She had just married her husband Brandon and you could tell she was so in love with that boy, her eyes still lit up and her speech got faster just when she talked about him.
Toward the end of fall semester it was obvious something was wrong. We would go out to eat and she would say she was so hungry, but after taking one bite she said she couldn't eat. After she got married she could no longer be on her parents' health insurance, and it took several months before she was covered again. In late March April was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It was a strange diagnosis because it's much more common in men (20:1 ratio) and usually it's men in their 50s and 60s after a lifetime of acid reflux damage. While I know cancer is not supposed to be taken lightly, April never suggested that her treatment wasn't going well, always stating that she'd be back with our nursing group in the fall.
Late in the summer though she stopped answering her cell phone, her husband saying that she was sleeping and that he'd take a message. During clinicals the day after her first wedding anniversary it was announced that her treatment was not working. Thankfully we were able to see her a lot after that, and she always had a smile on her face, still always so positive. She was Christian and very dedicated to her faith, I think that helped her keep her positive attitude. She even named her tumor Jezabel.
On Tuesday November 7th I got a voicemail from Jody after a long day at my OB/GYN clinical. April had passed away that morning. After visiting her house the day before, I have to admit I was hoping for it. She had become unresponsive and I knew that was the last thing she wanted.
I went to the wake and the funeral. I'm never sure what to say in those situations. I had talked to Brandon several times and I could tell he felt sad and awkward at the wake. He gave me a hug and I just told him I never know what to say for things like this, but that it wasn't really the words that mattered anyway. He just nodded. It was hard watching him walk behind her casket at the funeral.
She was a great friend and I still miss her. It's strange to think that someone my age could be that sick. I also feel weird that she figured out exactly what she wanted, she had her plan and then this happened. She was so passionate about being a nurse. And well, I'm honestly rather burned out and partially questioning why the hell I'm in nursing. Just doesn't feel right. It was great seeing how many people came to her funeral though, and how she touched so many people in the community after only 23 years.
It was after her funeral outside of Denny's that I found out my dad was in the hospital with heart complications...