First (Annual?) Nurse Doll Challenge

In August 2018, my friend and coworker Danielle Patterson proposed a challenge: use the same doll pattern to create dolls dressed in historic nursing uniforms from eras of our choosing. Danielle suggested using my "Verity" pattern. This doll is made completely of cloth, and stands about 22 inches tall.

After doing some research, I started my doll in February. I was drawn to the Red Cross uniforms worn during World War 1. Turns out Danielle chose that era as well.

After finally finishing my doll this week, we revealed them at work.

We've already decided to challenge ourselves again, though we haven't discussed the details. 

Here's Danielle's doll:

Here's mine:

When Minutes Count...

Back in December right before Christmas, we received word at the ER in which I work that we were receiving a horribly injured young man from a head-on collison. Scrambling to prepare for his arrival (the accident occured outside Chinook on the Washington side of the Columbia River, and not that far from Astoria) - we feared the worst. The ambulance report was grim. Ben was unconscious and had an extremely low blood pressure. He arrested shortly after arrival, requiring CPR for several minutes while we performed multiple interventions - chest tubes, central lines, squeezing in units of blood as fast as they would go in. Lifeflight was on the ground, and the crew was ready to fly him to Emanuel (the big trauma hospital) as soon as we could stabilize him.

Ben's family and friends started a blog almost immediately, and I have been following his progress since the accident. Ben's case was an amazing example of tremendous teamwork, everything going right, and faith. I'm sure faith played a role.

Yesterday I attended a trauma conference in Portland highlighting three amazing trauma "saves." Ben Suprunowski was one of them. The panel that discussed his case included a First Responder, EMT, Lifeflight crew member, one of our Astoria surgeons, and Emanuel Hospital's trauma surgeon Dr. Long. I even got to comment on the Astoria part of his resuscitation (so glad the 200+ people in the auditorium were behind me so I couldn't see them). The best part of all? Ben was there. What an amazing young man. He makes me believe in miracles. Statistically speaking, cardiac arrest due to blunt force trauma is fatal. It used to be one of the "death in the field" criteria used by paramedics (along with decapitation, rigor mortis, etc.). Guess it's time to rethink that one.

A reporter from one of the Portland TV stations was at the conference:
http://www.kgw.com/home/Teens-recovery-from-crash-is-a-lesson-in-teamwork-118278379.html

I wish all our traumas had happy endings. Here's Ben's van:

Where have I been, and just what have I been doing?

Well, it's truly autumn here, and life/work has been busy. I've been itching to make a doll, but it hasn't been in the cards. We're seeing many folks with the flu or "flu-like symptoms" present to the ER every day. Most of us have had our flu shots, but I get the feeling it's only a matter of time before we all start dropping like flies.

I attended a great trauma class last week (certification is required every 4 years). You might notice that the instructors are teaching in a hotel room. That's because the person coordinating the class lacks some organizational skills.

Not pointing fingers ~ I'm just saying...
Good thing they're real ER nurses, and therefore very adaptable and able to go with the flow (though the instructor said she couldn't sleep until she put the dummy away.)

TNCC (Trauma Nurses Core Course) is a comprehensive class, with written and practical exams. When I finished my one-on-one practical exam, the tester asked what courses I instructed. That caught me by surprise. I said, "Uh, doll making?" That's not what he was talking about. He said I'd make a good TNCC instructor because I like "control." I guess I do, but I think I'd rather teach dollmaking ;-)

We also babysit our grandson every Monday and Wednesday. Yesterday (during a rain break) we went to the local park with Ivan. He's so much fun to be around, and his vocabulary is expanding weekly. Dare I say, he's a genius?

Monday, my oldest son announced that he and his fiancee are expecting a girl in April. It came as quite a shock, but at least he knew to tell me in person and not via email. He's very excited and happy about it, and I'm happy that he's happy.

In just a little over a month we'll be celebrating Christmas. I'm sure I'll be ill-prepared as usual. Our Christmas party/auction is on December 19, and we've put together a little ER band for entertainment. We've just started rehearsing a set of songs to perform. The band has two new members that both work in the ER - Ian (drummer) and Kyle (my youngest son, on sax and is learning a little electric guitar). I'll also be playing the electric guitar for the first time. That should be entertaining...or not.

I've also become a little bit addicted to karaoke (at home, in private). Myspace.com has a karaoke feature, which is a good way to exercise the voice. I bought a mic for the computer, and now I can experience the pain of hearing recordings of myself.

A Necessary Break from Dolls

Believe it or not, today was spent on something other than dolls.

My ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) expires this month, so I sacrificed several hours of my day recertifying online. ACLS is a requirement for my job, and I'm fortunate to work at a hospital that not only pays for the course and the hours spent taking it, but also a $100 bonus for each advanced certification. Taking it online not only saves the hospital a little money, but is a HUGE convenience for me, 'cuz I took the class in my jammies and didn't have to drive to Portland!

Then while taking my online course today, I tried to use my pda ~ it has a program with drug information. The batteries were dead. So I put in new batteries. It still didn't work, so I set it aside. About a half hour later I heard a loud SNAP and then a crackling sound. It was the pda! I promptly removed the batteries, which were bubbling with something that looked quite toxic.

After finishing (and passing, you'll be happy to know) the ACLS test, I went to the basement computer to "Hot Sync" my pda (with another set of new batteries) and reload my data. The computer didn't work. I ended up spending over two hours troubleshooting, reinstalling Windows, messing with my pda. After much frustration, everything works now.