This is a personal post written by CEO, Emma Hayes in support of the nurses. All the team here in Hear Me Roar Media are behind you.
I didn’t always understand what a nurse did, sure why would I? I never had to visit hospitals and everyone I loved was with me and healthy, thankfully. I was quietly ignorant of the tremendous work nurses did because I hadn’t needed them. How fortunate I was, right?
And then I did need them – not for me but for those people, we do love in life. The ones that mean so much that you’ll break down doors of steel to get to them until you can’t anymore. As sadly, there isn’t a single door that will bring you to them.
For the last 5/6 years at least I have spent a huge amount of my time in hospitals with my mum. In the last 3 years alone, my mum spent at least 9 months of the year in hospital care. You learn a lot while there. You learn so much that I’d recommend anyone who has an issue with the nurses wanting more pay to watch them as they go along their day. Actually, watch them and you’ll see the tiring work they do.
You see in the last few years I had nothing else but to do but watch while minding mum. I saw nurses caring for people in the most touching and genuine way. I saw them save my mum’s life more than once and I remain eternally grateful for their work. I saw them hold doors closed when irate patients got abusive and protect their other patients. I saw them cry when a patient forgot who he was and was fighting against them in fear of his life. I watched some read to patients, chat to them and care for them in a way we normal humans could never do for family members let alone, strangers. They show love and care for the people we adore.
In the time before my mum died the nurses became a support to us and they always let us in to sit with her for hours at a time. They’d mind her when we weren’t there at night and call us if we were needed. They called us in the early hours of one morning and it was terrible news. The head nurse finished her shift at 8am but she stayed until at least 10am to ensure mum got into her private room comfortably to pass away in peace with us by her side. The wonderful nurse explained what was happening to us and hugged me. She went over her time to look after her patient and family. That family was us that day but tomorrow, that could be anyone of you. I hope it isn’t but unfortunately, we don’t have the control over life and how completely fragile it is. If there is anyone we need in this world, it is nurses and ones that are treated well.
That day we spent in a private room with these heroes checking in as we waited for the end. They supported us, got a priest and gave us food when we could barely talk or think. They respected us with such kindness and when the time came and went, they hugged me as I roared crying. When I had to leave, I spent a half hour shaking the hands of the nurses who I came to know over my years of visiting mum. Some had their own tears in their eyes as they had come to know my mum too. The ward was in silence and I heard my auntie say that they had lit a candle on the main desk in memory of my mother. The ward was in mourning too, but I was in my own bubble that I never noticed.
Without them I am not sure mum would have been with us for as long as she was. Personally, I am supporting the nurses for being the true heroes of our lives. Support them because one day you may need them and knowing they are there is a huge comfort. I know that if my mum was still with us, she would be sitting with the nurses and willing to fight for them. So, for her and for anyone else who hasn’t got a voice anymore, let us be that and support the nurses.
Thank you to every nurse who minded my mum on the several wards (over the years) of Naas Hospital and especially to the Moat Ward.
We are behind you #StandWithNursesAndMidwives