It's shiny. It's thin. It's sharp. It's usually attached to a tube with a vial or a bag on the other end. It looks like it could be an interesting toy. But its not interesting at all. It pricks. It hurts. Getting a shot. Getting blood drawn. Getting poisonous chemicals injected into the body. It's a needle.
Today I went to employee health for my health screening in order to volunteer in the ASK pediatric oncology clinic. Due to suppressed immunity systems of the patients, they need to be sure that I am completely healthy and have no hidden health issues that could compromise the health and treatment of the patients. At first I thought that I would just have to live through a TB test. Nope, had to have a full range of blood work. When the phlebotomist said that, I must have gone white because she asked if I was going to faint. Because you see, I have very small veins. Difficult for even the most skilled phlebotomist or nurse to find and now the woman who just confessed that she only draws blood about 3-4 times a week is going to stick me?
As she took the shiny, thin, sharp object from the package she asked where I was volunteering because most volunteer health screenings do not require the extensive tests I was having. I shared with her about the ASK clinic, its work and its mission. She commended me for doing that.
Commended me. Hm. I was about to faint from giving blood because I knew she would never find the vein and I would end up with 3 or 4 sticks. Last time I was in the clinic there were 2 children with needles larger than mine stuck in their skin. On the other end of my needle was a vial to catch the blood. On the other end of their needle was poison meant to save their lives. They were the ones to be commended, not me.
So while the phlebotomist was attempting to find a vein, we talked about the clinic and we talked about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She switched arms. The left arm was not working for her. I told her about my fundraising and how I wanted to be involved where the donation dollars are put to work. She found a vein on my right arm. It was small and the needle hurt like hell. I could feel it in the vein. The blood flowed out at an exceptionally slow pace because of the size of the vein. I told her that I was amazed. She got it on the second try, usually the third time was the charm. Then she said that she could tell how important this was to me and she was going to make it work.
Every now and then, the human race surprises me with surprised compassion. Nah, I am not to be commended. The phlebotomist who only draws blood 4 times a week but managed to get my blood on the second try is to be commended today.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tour of the Pediatric Oncology clinic
Since rejoining TNT, I've been struggling with the fundraising side of the coin. In our fundraising guides, we are provided with the buzz words - advocacy, educational opportunities, patient services, research, clinical trials and on and on. We speak these works, we ask you,our friends, coworkers, and family to give your dollars in support of these words but what exactly do they MEAN.
So, I've embarked on a quest to learn about these words. I contacted ASK - a non profit organization whose mission has remained the same: Making Life Better for Children with Cancer - to inquire about volunteering in the clinic. ASK provides funding for the pediatric oncology clinic at MCV so the proximity to my office is perfect.
Even though my fundraising efforts directly support, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, their mission and focus is the same as ASK. So over the next few months, I'll be able to learn and experience just what those words - advocacy, educational opportunities, patient services, research, clinical trials - mean.
Today I toured the pediatric oncology clinic and spoke with educational specialist and boy was I surprised. The clinic is bright and colorful but what surprised me is the size. It is extremely small and they (the staff, the patients, the parents) are all on top of one another. But despite that challenge, everyone was extremely friendly.
Katie, the educational specialist, is a jack of all trades. She is the gopher,the volunteer coordinator, the child entertainer, and the spokesperson for ASK. During the brief time I spent with her, it was obvious how much she enjoys her job and working with kids and ASK. What a special person.
There were several kids receiving treatments and most were playing on the computer. Katie indicated my job as a volunteer will be to keep them entertained. Me vs. the computer. Hm. The computer will probably win but we'll see how it goes!
So, I've embarked on a quest to learn about these words. I contacted ASK - a non profit organization whose mission has remained the same: Making Life Better for Children with Cancer - to inquire about volunteering in the clinic. ASK provides funding for the pediatric oncology clinic at MCV so the proximity to my office is perfect.
Even though my fundraising efforts directly support, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, their mission and focus is the same as ASK. So over the next few months, I'll be able to learn and experience just what those words - advocacy, educational opportunities, patient services, research, clinical trials - mean.
Today I toured the pediatric oncology clinic and spoke with educational specialist and boy was I surprised. The clinic is bright and colorful but what surprised me is the size. It is extremely small and they (the staff, the patients, the parents) are all on top of one another. But despite that challenge, everyone was extremely friendly.
Katie, the educational specialist, is a jack of all trades. She is the gopher,the volunteer coordinator, the child entertainer, and the spokesperson for ASK. During the brief time I spent with her, it was obvious how much she enjoys her job and working with kids and ASK. What a special person.
There were several kids receiving treatments and most were playing on the computer. Katie indicated my job as a volunteer will be to keep them entertained. Me vs. the computer. Hm. The computer will probably win but we'll see how it goes!
Monday, February 15, 2010
First Day back with TNT
Saturday, February, 6
It was cold. REALLY cold. I thought I had officially lost my mind. I was nervous about joining TNT again and doing the fundraising but this bitter wind coming off the Fountain Lake pond really had me second guessing my decision to do this. The air was unforgiving and there was no where to hide. I just wanted to get start just to get warmed up. So much for a lovely run through the snow, it was just too cold. I should have done the mileage on the treadmill at Burkwood.
It was nice meeting new people and just being a participant with TNT. For so many years, I was mentor, recruiter, coach and now here I was Lelia the participant. I was worried when people started introducing themselves -they were all really fast runners. And I am a really slow slogger. Fortunately, Art, a patient honoree and current participant, was in the same boat as I so we paired up and headed out. Only 4 miles were scheduled for the day. Easy stuff. Or so I thought.
Easy stuff until we hit Floyd Avenue which still had snow and ice on the ground. Sometimes we jigged when we should have jagged and sped up when we should have slowed down and I thought at one point my lungs were going to explode because it had been so long since I had run outside. But we were just happy to be outside and not couped up inside because of another Richmond snowstorm. It was nice to be talking to a live person while doing this miles. Art was able to make the time pass quickly. Usually, I am mentally trying to calculate the minutes I've been out by how many songs I've listened to on iPod.
We somehow made it back to the park - oh, I remember, we made it back so fast because we were talking about the Food and Wine Festival at Disney and I got so excited talking about that event, that we picked speed. Food, wine, Florida. Ah, I can almost feel my fingers just thinking about it.
So far, I have reached 8% of my fundraising goal of $3000. I can't wait until I reach 100%, that will be a great day!
It was cold. REALLY cold. I thought I had officially lost my mind. I was nervous about joining TNT again and doing the fundraising but this bitter wind coming off the Fountain Lake pond really had me second guessing my decision to do this. The air was unforgiving and there was no where to hide. I just wanted to get start just to get warmed up. So much for a lovely run through the snow, it was just too cold. I should have done the mileage on the treadmill at Burkwood.
It was nice meeting new people and just being a participant with TNT. For so many years, I was mentor, recruiter, coach and now here I was Lelia the participant. I was worried when people started introducing themselves -they were all really fast runners. And I am a really slow slogger. Fortunately, Art, a patient honoree and current participant, was in the same boat as I so we paired up and headed out. Only 4 miles were scheduled for the day. Easy stuff. Or so I thought.
Easy stuff until we hit Floyd Avenue which still had snow and ice on the ground. Sometimes we jigged when we should have jagged and sped up when we should have slowed down and I thought at one point my lungs were going to explode because it had been so long since I had run outside. But we were just happy to be outside and not couped up inside because of another Richmond snowstorm. It was nice to be talking to a live person while doing this miles. Art was able to make the time pass quickly. Usually, I am mentally trying to calculate the minutes I've been out by how many songs I've listened to on iPod.
We somehow made it back to the park - oh, I remember, we made it back so fast because we were talking about the Food and Wine Festival at Disney and I got so excited talking about that event, that we picked speed. Food, wine, Florida. Ah, I can almost feel my fingers just thinking about it.
So far, I have reached 8% of my fundraising goal of $3000. I can't wait until I reach 100%, that will be a great day!
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