↬ This story was originally published on Story Spinner May 10, 2016 ↫
Once upon a time, there was a little boy and he was gravely ill. He was on the pediatrics unit of a very busy hospital. Because it was one of the best units in the state, his parents had brought him there even though that meant they could not be with him most of the time. They wished with all their hearts that they could be there, but they had responsibilities and other small children at their home far, far away.
The little boy was so small and so ill that his bed had bars on it to keep him in place. In his chest, inserted between his ribs, was a tube which was draining fluid to a container on the floor. The little boy cried because he was alone and in terrible pain.
One day, a young, new nurse was assigned to care for the little boy. She had never met him before but she knew that the little boy would not like some of the duties she had to perform that day with him.
The little boy was too young to use an incentive spirometer.1 This was a problem because he needed to exercise his lungs with deep breaths. The nurse understood that the little boy would not want to take deep breaths because the illness and tube in his chest made him hurt terribly.
The nurse visited the boy often during the day. Every time she entered the room, the boy’s big brown eyes warily followed her every move from his prison-bed.
She spoke softly to him and even though he was a child, she explained everything she was doing while she performed her tasks.
During one of these visits with the little boy, the nurse decided not to go to lunch. Instead, she lowered the bars on the bed and sat in a chair next to him. She took his little hand and told him a story.
“Once upon a time,” she began softly, “there were three little pigs…”
The little boy seemed to be very interested in the story, so the nurse continued.
Before long, the nurse came to the most important part…
“You have to tell me what the big, bad wolf said,” the nurse told him. “I can’t remember.”
With all the animation he could muster, the little boy loudly recited, “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blooooooooooow your house down!”
And then the little boy did just that. He showed the nurse how he could huff and puff and blow the house down just as the big, bad wolf had done.
The nurse laughed and gave the little boy a hug. He didn’t know it, but throughout the story, he had done his breathing exercises.
The nurse visited him often over the next few weeks even though he wasn’t always one of her assigned patients. She had learned something very valuable, you see, about taking time with people and communicating with them, no matter their age.
Before long, the boy was well enough to go home. The reunion with his overwrought parents was very emotional but the nurse didn’t cry until she got in her car to go home for the day.
The nurse would never cross paths with the little boy again but she hoped he would live happily ever after.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi
Happy timezones, good friends! This is a true story about my early career. I learned so much taking care of others.
Hoping each of you is having a good week!
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting! You are important!
1. An incentive spirometer is a plastic device used to measure how deeply you can inhale and helps keep lungs healthy during diseases such as pneumonia. It is also often used after surgery. It helps with slow, deep breathing to fill your lungs with air which can prevent many lung problems.
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Compassion – the wonder drug!
Exactly. Thank you, PeterJames. Happy Tuesday.
What a brilliant ruse to get the boy to use the I.S., Kymber!
Thank you, Dawn! 🙂
That’s a clever nurse for getting the boy to do the breathing exercises. And such caring for her to give extra attention to the boy. This is a heartwarming story 🙂
Thank you, Dave. I’m glad you enjoyed this story. 🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
A story of inspiration Kymber. Everyone has a time when they need to be mothered. Happy Thursday. Allan
Thank you, Allan. Happy Sunday!
You write interesting stories!!
Thank you so much, Jean! 🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
Beautiful story, Kymber! 💖🌺
Thank you so much. 🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
You’re most welcome. 🌹
Aww, a beautiful story.
Thank you, Sadje. 🌺
You’re welcome 😉
WOW, what a story KymberNoodle. Ok, so you know I had to look up what a incentive spirometer was. 😜 Of course that was before I got to your footnote defining what the device is. 🤦🏻♀️ This is such a heartwarming story…that little Big Good Wolf! 🐺🐷🐺🐷🐺🐷🐺
LOL I thought I should explain what that is. LOLOL You are so go and get ’em, you looked it up right away! 😀 😀 I love it! Right on! He was such a sweet boy, I’m glad the story touched your heart.
That story was one of the most touching and beautiful stories I’ve read in a very long time. What a wonderful nurse. It is a reminder of what a wonderful and important job our nurses are doing.
A lovey story, Kymber. I was confined to a hospital when I was four years old. I don’t remember much have always had a soft spot for nurses. I think the essence of their kindness is the memory I took away. Not surprised this nurse cried in her car. She had a big heart.
Thank you, John. I’m glad you hold nurses in a special regard. That means more than I can say.
A touching story from an excellent story teller Kymber. You had me feeling sorrow, and joy by the end.
Thank you so much, Ernie, for your kind words. I’m glad it made you feel joy at the end.
What a Wonderful Read and Story
Thank you so much, Willie! I’m glad you liked it.
I did 🤗🤗
🌺🌺
What a terrific story! The nurse (you?!) was so patient and curious and clever… I spent a week in the hospital when I was very young due to having had a tracheostomy. Mostly what I remember is a horrible machine which came around twice a day to suck mucous (I think?) out of my airways. It would have been lovely to interact with a nurse like the one in this tale. Thank you for sharing it and for reminding us of what Gandhi once said/wrote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Yes, the nurse was me, and I thank you for your kind words. 🙂 I’m sorry you didn’t have a nurse when you needed to be comforted. It must have been very scary for you. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me.🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
Girl I can’t take aa tear jerker!!!!! How sweet is this nurse and precious baby boy.
Thank you so much, Bella. I’m sorry I made you cry. 🌺
It was an ugly cry too! LOL
Oh no! I should probably send you a box of tissues. LOL 🌺
LOL I’m glad no one saw the ugly cry.
I feel ya’! lol 🤣😂
Is this a true story, Kymber? It reads like it is.
Yes, Robbie. It is a true story of one of my early career experiences. 🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
This is so lovely Kymber. Times long ago as these days the nurses are too busy to spend time with their charges……… or at least on adult wards. Both Hubby and I found it when we were in hospital earlier this year. Plenty of staff, but so many training or not qualified to do certain tasks so patients got left to their own devices. Hospitals are scary places for kids and adults alike when they don’t know what’s going on, are in pain, and alone.
Thank you so much. I’m sorry to hear of your experiences in the hospital. I wish it had been better. I agree it can be very scary, let alone if you’re in pain or alone.🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
It’s a lovely story! Thank for sharing, Kymber. 🌹
Thank you, KC! I’m glad you liked it!
Touching and heartwarming story! 💖 It’s wonderful the little boy recovered. Nurses are true angels of mercy.
Thank you, Debbie. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story and its ending. 🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
What a wise strategy the nurse had! Beautiful story Kymber!
Thank you so much! 🌺🐈⬛🐈🐈⬛
I liked your story, and I’m glad it had a happy ending. 🙂
Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🌺