Twister

It was a typical tuesday evening. AJ was catching up on news and sports. I was getting everything ready for work the next day. All of a sudden we heard the tornado siren going off. We checked the weather. We were very relived to find out that the tornado was not coming towards us. Then we heard several of our neighbors talking outside. We went out and joined our neighbors. One of our neighbor said there was a tornado touch down in Lone Grove (approx 5 miles from us).  While we were standing outside the wind started picking up and got to the point where we felt like we were going to get blown away.  Then it started raining heavily. So we came inside and started our bedtime rituals. Then my phone started ringing. AJ answered phone.  I heard him say "yes ma'm, we'll be there." and  hung up. AJ told me that the tornado hit so many homes in Lone Grove and several people were dead and so many were critically injured. They declared disaster at the hospital and we needed to report to ER. 

We got dressed very quickly and got to the hospital. When we got to the ER entrance, there were so many people standing outside crying. Some of them had cuts and bruises. Some people had dirt all over them. As we walked into the Lobby of ER, I was so shocked to see the amount of people. The first person I saw was a young lady sitting in a wheel chair. She had a cell phone in her hand and was talking very loudly and crying. All I heard her say was " There was a tornado and Mom and Dad are DEAD!!!" and then  she started crying hysterically. One of our coworker was by her side by then and was trying to comfort her. I walked in through the triage into the ER nurses station. Every single one of  the ER rooms were full. I saw so many of my coworkers in several rooms working on several patients. I found a house supervisor and asked her what she wanted me to do.  She asked me to triage the patients in the lobby. when I went to the triage, there were already two RNs in on the triage rooms and there was no one working the next triage room.  So I figured I would have to work on my own. Once I opened up the triage door, people started coming in.  Every one had a story and I couldn't believe a storm could do so much damage to lives. There were several injured children brought in by random strangers and asked me " Do you have anyone else with that las name here? I don't know where the parents are." Those kid were so scared. They had a blank stare on their faces. Not sure of what was going to happen or where to go. Fortunately, I was able to located families for some of those children.  While I was walking around to find families, I saw nurses, doctors, radiology staff, lab staff, and more and my husband at their best doing what they do on a daily basis! I was so impressed by the dedication and love of  my coworkers. Somehow we managed to triage everyone in a timely manner. The next challenge was to have everyone seen by a physician. How do you prioritize between a head trauma and bleeding and another head trauma and bleeding?  Some how that was also sorted out. Once everyone was see by a physician,  I decided to go up to the ICU and help out. I met with my manager and a few coworkers and we sorted things out so that we had room for those critically ill patients. Once again, I don't remember how but  somehow we got enough room for everyone! Then my manager wanted everyone who was scheduled to work the next morning to go home and get some rest. AJ brought me home and he had to go back. I tossed and turned and could not sleep.  So many thoughts were racing through my mind. I didn't how to turn it off.  I talked to my sister and then online to one my friends. I still couldn't sleep. Finally AJ came back. He was so worn out and ready to sleep and here I was wide awake wanted to talk. Finally I was able to sleep around 3:30. Two hrs later, it was time to wake up and deal with more trauma! 

The next day was another emotional day. There were several friends and families of our patients came in having just found out their loved one was alive! Once again I heard several stories and I am still amazed how these people survived! 

I am so humbled by this experience and the opportunity to be here of all places and  to be a part of the trauma team. Once again, I'm reminded how fragile life is. 

Expectations

Last couple of days AJ and I have been reflecting on our relationship and amazed at how much we have learned. 

From the very early stages of our relationship we read so many relationship books and asked several marriage counselors for advise.  We both knew that communication is the key for a successful relationship. We were very real with each other about our feelings and our and needs.  We thought we were good at it! Little did we know that was not the case at all. One of our major learning experiences in our relationship happened while we were engaged. 

In July I went out of town for  few days for a friend's wedding. I missed AJ so much while I was away. After the wedding the next day I few into OKC.  I reached OKC around noon. Before we left AJ had told me that he will be picking me up at the airport. After we started dating, this was the very first time I was away for a few days. So I was looking forward to seeing AJ. When the planed landed in OKC, my heart was leaping with joy to see him. I got out of plane as fast as I could and came out where the visitors waited. I saw several people waiting in anticipation to see their loved ones. I saw several couples hugging and kissing, several children running and jumping. But there was no AJ! I could not believe it! I looked again and again at all those waiting. I didn't see my favorite guy! How could this be possible?? He has been treating me with respect and love all this time, but how could he do this to me? All of these thoughts raced through my head.  So finally, I called his cell phone. There is no answer. I called my dad. He said AJ should be at the airport. So I called AJ again and he answered. I was so mad when I heard his voice.  He sounded so thrilled to hear my voice. But I was so furious and asked him where he was. He told me was in his car at the passenger pick up and wanted me to go there to meet him. I was even more mad. Once again thoughts started to race through my mind. "He is my fiance! Not my taxi driver. He should be meeting me at the gate. Not at the passenger pick up." Finally I went to the passenger pick up to meet him. As soon as he saw me he came out of the car to get my bags and I didn't let him touch my bags. He was surprised  and had no clue why I won't let him touch my bags. So then he came to hug me and kiss me. Same story I didn't want to hug him or kiss him. That made him more confused and he looked like he was hurt. As soon as we both got in the car and he drove off. He pulled over by a gas station and asked me why I was mad. I said " because you are not my taxi driver!!!" He had no clue what I meant by that. so long story short I told him I was mad because he wasn't there at the terminal. He told me he didn't know that I wanted him to be there at the terminal. He told me that every time he traveled, he was picked up by the passenger pick up and not at terminal. That is when we realized that we were raised up in two entirely different families and we have and will always approach  situations differently.  It also dawned on us that we never told each other where we will be meeting each other. We assumed that the other person knew about it. That is when promised each other to always let each other know about our expectations.  We make and effort to communicate our expectations on a daily basis. Thanks to that we have a much deeper and loving relationship now than we ever had 2yrs ago. 

This valentine's day I'm so thankful to have AJ in my life. There is never a dull moment when we are together.We both waited a long time to meet each other, but it was worth the wait. I pray that we have a long time together have lots of fun on this yathra (journey)!

AJ's 30

AJ turned 30 in January. I planned a surprise party for him. We went to Dallas and had several of his friends meet us at Dave and Buster's. AJ was totally surprised. We played games till midnight. Apparently Eldorado was a hit! Then the next day we all had lunch together.  His Best man Josh came all the way from CA for AJ's birthday! Tony and Ashley drove in from Long View, TX. Harvey & Jenae, Alyssa & Boots, Phil, Tiffany, Erin and Ashley from Dallas also surprised him. We had a really nice time catching up with friends. 

Virginia & DC

Making of an ICU Nurse

All my  hard work and giving up anything fun for two years finally paid off.  I am done with Nursing school. I graduated  in May. I took my nursing boards in July and have been an ICU nurse since then. Every day brings new challenges and learning experiences. I'm thankful for the wide variety of exposure in this rural ICU. Here are a few pics from my graduation

small town

We moved to a small town in May 2008. This move was very challenging for both of us. Everything here closes by 8pm. (Most days that is when I get off work). All our friends live so far away. (We have to  drive 2hrs to okc or to Dallas). But there are some good things of living here. We live so close to the lake, and ofcourse, Turner falls and other scenic drives are very close by. there are a few places that have really good food for a good price. ( I had my very first fried pies a few weeks ago!!). Here are a few pics from a scenic drive that we got to enjoy  a few months ago. 

August 11, 2007

Eric and Chaney from Video Legacy did an amazing job on our wedding video. Here is a link of our wedding highlights. (You  will need quicktime to watch the highlights)

Jennifer Lee was our photographer. She is  very creative and full of talent. These are a few of the pictures that Jennifer took.