Molly

Just underwent prostate surgery for BPH … TURP was the procedure. Basically, a lemon sized prostate gland that should be the size of a walnut is sliced and diced through a scope to allow the urethra to return to a normal-sized portal for peeing. Seems to be a real bane for men, especially as they get older. Hopefully for me, 2023 will be a much more comfortable year.

The procedure took alittle over an hour, under anesthesia. A stop-over in Recovery should have taken about an hour, two hours max for post-op observation. I was in Recovery for nearly five hours, waiting on a room upstairs for an overnight stay. The reason given … 16 nurses out reportedly due to flu conditions. Turns out that the hospital is short by at least 16 nurses if not more because of a mass exodus from the nursing profession that started before COVID but certainly accelerated because of COVID related rigors.

Then, there is Molly, my post-op surgery nurse. She is wonderful. Resembles Jennifer Aniston. Low-keyed like your favorite aunt, just younger. Always eager to answer questions and provide stuff to improve comfort for the patient.

I kept my eyes closed for much of the five hours, but I listened intently to the banter of the half dozen nurses as patients were wheeled in and out of Recovery. Their spirit of collaboration with cheerful chatter was refreshing and obviously helpful for the patients, including me. Molly seemed to be the silent leader of the group although others may be more senior. Her relaxed intensity and quiet self-confidence separated her from the rest although they have their own constructive traits as well.

I wonder if Duchenne ward nurses are running a shortage. Sure hope not. Duchenne children need all of the support that they can get. If their ranks are short similarly to my experience, at least I hope and pray there is a “Molly” on each Duchenne ward in the dozen or so hospitals in the U.S. that seem to be most effective at measuring and mitigating the progression of Duchenne, including Cincinnati Children’s where my very special grandson Hayes gets his check-ups.

Labs and pharmaceutical companies remain behind in terms of fighting Duchenne but nurses the quality of Molly certainly can pick up the slack when Duchenne patients come into their domains. May God bless the Molly’s of nursing.

Kindly Papa,

Franklin, Tennessee