Mark Stoller moved to Falcon in 2007.†He and his wife, Andra, both U.S. Air Force veterans, enjoy life with their daughters, extended family and adopted rescue dogs in Latigo. Mark savors the privilege of his wife and daughters being his muse for topics, people to meet and places to investigate.
As I mentioned last month, Iíve decided to pursue nursing as my next career and have started taking classes at Pikes Peak Community College.Andra and I have always joked that we never do anything small. Go big or go home!This is the case as I juggle a full-time job, husband, dad, son, church, writer and now school responsibilities. This semester, Iím taking biology and the certified nursing assistant course.I wonít lie ó biology is no more interesting to me now than it was 32 years ago when I took it at The Ohio State University. However, I donít have the sophomore temptation of beer and women to distract me. Iím happy to say I am learning more this time.The Certified Nursing Assistant course is a required prerequisite to apply to the PPCC nursing program. Included with class and labs are five clinical experiences at a long-term care facility, rehabilitation facility and Memorial Central, which is a level one trauma hospital.I enjoyed the long-term care facility the most, where I got to interact and take care of a multitude of elderly patients. Long-term care, however, is the last stop for these individuals ó it is where they will die.I worked both the general care and memory care units ó each had its own number of personalities I wonít soon forget.I was able to take care of a 98-year-old man who was in the Army Air Corps, stationed in England, during World War II. I shaved his face (which hadnít been cared for in weeks), washed and combed his hair, dressed him for the day and tucked him in bed for his nap before feeding him at lunchtime. I also took care of a woman who grew up in the little town right next to my motherís in old Germany ó itís the eastern area given to Poland after World War II as a consolation gesture for the invasion.In the memory care unit, most residents deal with dementia. It ravages the body, and their minds are going backward in time. They had great joy sitting around the nurseís station when we played Big Band and Patsy Cline on the radio. One lady would enter other residentsí rooms, spend 30 minutes meticulously making the bed, and then proceed to take her nap on it until that resident returned.My heart goes out to these folks in the long-term care facilities. Honestly, it does take a lot of work to care for these physically, mentally and emotionally frail souls. I donít think anybody visited the residents the days that I was working in their specific units. I found just a touch of the hand, arm or shoulder let them feel human again and know someone cares.My last two clinical rotations were at Memorial Central. I enjoy the clinical precision with which people were attended to throughout the day by the entire staff. I worked in the neurological unit and took care of patients recovering from brain bleeds, stroke or brain surgery.In fact, one of the patients went into cardiac arrest. When ìCode Blueî is announced over the hospital intercom, it is quite a sight to see the elevators and stairwell doors explode open with techs, nurses and doctors racing to do their part to revive another human. Itís just an incredible demonstration of their commitment to life. Their efforts were successful.With each experience, I am reminded every day we wake up is a gift. Take the time to appreciate the people in your life and be thankful for all you have.
