Above and Beyond

I went to Target this evening to check out the clearance (I am sooooo obsessed with clearance shopping, it's one of my many talents ;) )  and I ran in to someone who I never expected to see ever again in my life.  Before everyone gets up in arms it's actually someone I was happy to see!  I've talked before about the SAN at the hospital who was an idiot, but I never talked about any of the other hospital staff I saw.

The woman I ran in to at Targhetto was the first nurse I saw in the emergency room, and the first person who made me feel like if I could survive I could do anything.  The night I reported my rape and went to the ER I was just in a total state of shock, I could barely function. I was sitting in the examining room with Cassy and a tv was on and on that tv were old episodes of Law and Order SVU.  That's exactly what every rape victim wants to be watching over and over again right after she's been attacked. Seriously? I was keeping it together for the most part until I called my mommy and told her what was going on.  Somehow admitting what had happened to my mom was something I couldn't handle and I completely broke down and cried. I don't even know that what I did could be classified as just crying.  I was sobbing, I couldn't breathe, I could barely speak and I apologized a lot. Can you BELIEVE that I APOLOGIZED for being raped? Like it was somehow my fault? So ridiculous.  I remember that during this phone call the nurse walked into the room and immediately walked back out.  I figured I had made her uncomfortable with my nonsense.

I was wrong.  She returned 5 minutes later with a bottle of water and a candy bar.  When Cassy left and Sarah switched in, the nurse sat with me telling me everything would be ok.  She told me about her own experience with sexual assault, admitting that she had been raped when she was in high school but never told anybody until years later when the memories finally got to her.  She told me she already knew I was strong because I had had the courage to report it, I had stood up for myself and said no, I had FOUGHT.  At the time I didn't realize the importance of my conversation with her.  That woman sat with me in that room until the SAN got there to do my rape kit.  She realized what was on tv and turned the channel, she got me water when I needed it, and she sat quietly and listened to me cry when I needed her to. Best nurse ever.

I had always wished I could have thanked her that night for everything she had done for me, but being so preoccupied I never thought of it.  When I saw the nurse at the store I immediately knew it was her, but I knew she would have no idea who I was.  I started walking towards her and all of a sudden her jaw dropped and she said "OH MY GOSH I REMEMBER YOU!" And she truly remembered because she started talking about things that only a person who had been in that examining room would know.  I was finally able to thank her for everything she had done and I am so glad I had the opportunity to do so.

All and all I've been having a good week, and this just made it better. I'm trying to get an appointment to see my doctor about medications so hopefully I'll be able to say next week that I'm even BETTER. :)