- 6:00 AM | Alarm goes off—time to wake up. Wait, I’ve been awake for the last hour.
- 6:10 AM | Get myself ready, make sure the kids are up, and feed the dogs. Don’t forget my lunch!
- 7:45 AM | Hurry to work and check the schedule, prepare the rooms, check on lab results, and start calls to patients for test results and follow-ups.
- 8:30 AM | Gather to pray as a team, read a devotional, bear each other’s burdens, and encourage one another. And oh, don’t forget a cup of coffee!
- 9:00 AM | My first appointment of the day is with a couple who are very determined to have an abortion. They explain that they don’t want a baby to interfere with their lives as they are just too busy with their careers and other children. They plan to not tell anyone about the pregnancy and just end it with an abortion, all the while watching their little one on the screen moving about. Their minds are made up. They don’t want pictures, and they don’t want another ultrasound because they don’t want to see their baby again. I do my best to show no judgment. I am careful to meet them with compassion as I educate them about abortion and other options available to them, hoping and praying under my breath for the right words to say. Did I do and say enough? My head swirls as I chart and prepare for the next patient.
- 9:15 AM | My son texted me. He can’t find his saxophone anywhere, and his band class begins in 45 minutes.
- 10:00 AM | Clean the bathroom and the ultrasound room and prep it for the next patient. Thankfully the next appointment is with a lovely couple who are finally pregnant after trying for years! As I start the ultrasound, I am so excited for them…listening to them talk about how they are going to tell their family and friends, who they are going to tell first, and who they are going to name the baby after. As they share their excitement, my heart sinks, and I wonder why I must be the one to turn their world upside down. “I’m so sorry…I am not seeing what I expect to see…” Almost 9 weeks, beautiful baby with identifiable arms and legs, but there is no heartbeat. The inconsolable crying can be heard from behind closed doors, and I can’t help but cry too. There are no words to explain how I feel for them as I make a feeble attempt to help them understand and process that their baby is no longer alive. I do my best to explain the next steps and offer memorial items and words of comfort. It just seems so unfair.
- 11:15 AM | I’m blessed by a wonderful team. My receptionist sees my hurting heart (and my tear-filled eyes). She boldly hugs me and begins to pray.
- 11:30 AM | Clean the rooms again. Restock the toilet paper. Ask the receptionist to make more copies of paperwork.
- 12:00 PM | Aahhhh, lunchtime. I forgot my lunch! Thankfully someone brought soup to share today! I made a quick phone call to my husband to talk about our dinner plans, and he mentioned that our son had located his saxophone.
- 12:30 PM | A young woman came to the clinic looking for support to find a new place to live because her home life is not good. Together, we love on her…feed her, treat her, encourage her, and after many phone calls and purely by the grace of God, we find her a safe place to live!
- 1:00 PM | My afternoon begins with a young woman who is uncertain about her pregnancy. She has a career that she wants to continue in and does not know who the father is. During her last three visits, we have been addressing her fears, helping her reconnect with her family, and hopefully helping her see that she can have a career and a baby. If she could only see that, she doesn’t have to choose one over the other. Her baby is a little further along now, moving lots, fingers and toes, obvious profile…Finally, on her fourth ultrasound, she shared that she is going to parent! Oh, thank you, Jesus!
- 2:00 PM | Clean…again.
- 2:15 PM | God’s goodness and grace through this last appointment is just the encouragement I need to get through the rest of the day. Especially now as I look at the daunting list of follow-up calls to patients. Some need their test results. Two patients called with medical questions. Others just need to know that we are still here thinking about them. And then I’m reminded how persistently Jesus pursues us. I can do this.
- 3:00 PM | One of my calls is from a patient who is 11 weeks. She’s crying, saying she has started bleeding and doesn’t know what to do. I slow her down; let’s understand what might be happening. Reassure her, encourage her, educate her. We have a plan. She stops crying, thanking me for calling her back, talking with her, and listening.
- 3:20 PM | My next patient didn’t show. I’ll give her a call. Straight to voicemail, mailbox is full. Of course. A little reprieve to catch up on charting and make more phone calls. Even a little time to grab a prayer card and walk my four laps around while praying for my LaVie team.
- 3:45 PM | My daughter sent me a video of my grandbabies giggling together. That’s just what I needed this afternoon.
- 4:00 PM | Last appointment of the day. We have seen her several times during this pregnancy, as she has not been certain about staying pregnant. She’s been through a lot and says her life is messy. She’s in a relationship, but that’s not working out either. This is her fourth appointment with us. Today she’s made the brave decision to consider an adoption plan for her pregnancy. It’s a good day!
- 5:00 PM | Finish charting, take out garbage, wipe down rooms, and prep my area for the next nurse tomorrow. Leave an encouraging note for her.
- 5:30 PM | Phew. Time to run a few errands before I head home to take care of my littles and our furry friends. Hoping to pray and decompress the day. It was a lot.
A word from Cindy our CEO…
I am deeply proud and honored to work alongside some of the most incredible individuals. It’s truly awe-inspiring to witness how God uses each team member’s unique strengths to serve LaVie’s patients. It is a blessing to see the body of Christ functioning in the way He intended, supporting and uplifting each other for a common purpose.
The challenges we face at LaVie are evolving. The abortion-minded patient we encounter today is different from the one we saw just five years ago. Reaching her has become increasingly difficult, as she struggles with fear and deeply ingrained lies. Even when she eventually finds her way to us, it often takes multiple appointments before we can begin to address her concerns and help her see the truth.
While you may not be present in the rooms with our medical team as they care for patients, this “day in the life of a LaVie nurse” blog should offer you a glimpse into what our medical team often experiences. I hear about it, I witness it, but reading the words of my nurses left me breathless, heartbroken, and yet so grateful that we get to experience what it means to have hope in Jesus.
The level of deprivation the nurses encounter daily is difficult to fully comprehend. Having arduous conversations with patients seeking abortions is emotionally taxing. It requires an extraordinary balance of sensitivity and professionalism, all while upholding LaVie’s beliefs and values. You’d be incredibly proud of the WHO behind the WHAT of LaVie Health.
Thank you for supporting these unsung heroes!
