"Today's test is tomorrow's Testimony"

Since starting my final externship at Dixie Regional Hospital, I have learned and grown immensely (grown both physically and spiritually--baby bump is now evident)! I've had some pretty incredible and unforgettable experiences. My supervisor has been a heaven-sent blessing. She has been extremely understanding, encouraging, and supportive and that are qualities that I haven't seen lately with supervisors. My supervisor has really handed me the wheel and I've tried to take it and go. It's been interesting but rewarding. A few weeks into my externship, we received an evaluation of a man who had recently had his second stroke. His first stroke did not leave any outstanding issues in motility, eating, and communication. However, this second stroke did. This was my true first aphasic client and I was terrified. Because of his stroke, he has very limited communication abilities. At the time I met him, he could only say the word 'one'. Everything was 'one' and you could see in his sweet face the frustration it was causing him to not be able to get even communicate basic wants and needs. I went into get him from his hospital room and his, just as sweet wife, accompanied him. He was happy and excited to see me (which always brightens my day! :D) but there was something he was trying to tell me by only saying the word 'one'. His wife tried to interpret what he was trying to tell me but soon he just got frustrated and quit trying. I could see sadness and disappointment that broke my heart. The only thing we were able to get from him was it was about his sister. Right away I learned from this sweet spirit of a man was that he was deeply in love with his wife and family. From then on, he would tear up every time he tried to talk about his family. However, on this day he was so excited to tell me something about his sister and was so disappointed he couldn't tell me what he wanted. We again tried within the clinic room to guess at what he was trying to tell me, but with not success. We have one hour sessions so we took a break part way through the session and his nurse stopped me outside the clinic room and said that his sister, from a local skilled nursing facility, was coming to visit him today around 3 and wanted to make sure I was going to be done by then. So, with that news I went back into the clinic room and sat down with my sweet client and asked "were you trying to tell me that your sister is coming to visit you today?" Immediately, the client started to cry, grabbed my hand, and kissed my hand. He was so relieved that one person was able to figure out what he was trying to tell them. I was in tears leaving the hospital that day. That is the very reason, and it was a very welcome reaffirmation, that lead me to become a speech-language pathologist in the first place. I give people to opportunity to talk. From birth to death, it's my responsibility to give those I am blessed to serve, a voice. I still get chills thinking about that moment. From then on, I was on overload and by the time this client left, I take no credit, but he was able to communicate 2 word phrases and communicate basic wants and needs with no assistance. He is a miracle, not only to his family and himself but I was so blessed to witness this miracle in my life.

It's been a great experience. 4 weeks to go. Wish me luck.

I also wanted to give a brief update on our little family. I am now 16 weeks along and that baby bump is now evident and I cannot suck in any longer. There's a sweet baby in there! :D It's exciting. I'm so excited to be a mother because I had a great mother myself. Valentine's Day was my Mamma Linda's birthday and I couldn't be more blessed to have such an incredible woman as my mother. I am scared, yes, for the responsibility but because I was taught my a righteous, generous, blessed, kind, tender, and loving mother, I strive to do the same. My mother has changed my life in every way for the greater good. She is my strength, my shoulder to cry on, my support, and my friend. Mamma Linda deserves a shout out!! I love her. :D

We've also run into some unexpected obstacles and it's hard to see through the darkness at this point. Without going into huge specifics, but I unfortunately am not a U.S. citizen (found out when I was 20 years old). It's such a long story and has brought so much grief and heartache into my life, my parents life, but now my sweet little babies life. We were declined for medical insurance because according to my "green card" I have not been in the United States for 5 years (5 years in October). Since that time, we've called and called and been transferred and disconnected with no luck. My husband has been my sanity since I'm emotional and pregnant--and my default emotion is to cry...so, I'm useless. We are praying for a miracle. Things haven't worked out yet but Michael and I are trusting in the Lord that things will work out in time...and hopefully right when we need it the most. We believe they will. They always do.

2 Nephi 31:20

"Wherefore, you must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if you shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."