Scene 7, seen by another: job description for patient and family

I've received quite a few notes from friends and colleagues who've been reading the hospital posts. Thank you. I asked permission to excerpt one, titled "Thinking of you," because it might be helpful to others going through similar experiences. Thank you, Amy.

Jessica,

...Your hospital posts bring back so many memories for me!  My husband was critically injured a little over 10 years ago.  He was hospitalized for more than 3 months, intensive care, 13 surgeries, etc.  He is fine now – can’t play pro-level volleyball anymore but he’s found other pursuits to fill that void.  And I am so thankful to still have him that I could care less about the resulting changes in his physical self. 

I figure I have spent hundreds of hours in hospitals.  A couple of things that saved us:  we actually created a job description for each of us!  Lee was responsible for “reporting” how he was feeling and for articulating what he needed.  I was the advocate/expediter – figured out how best to get what he needed.  Had to give up trying to guess what he needed, and judging his needs.  I loved learning how to “influence” outcomes in a hospital – so different than business!  All in all it was a valuable growth experience for both of us in so many ways.

You are in my thoughts.

Buckets of love,

Amy