July 04, 2006
Tuesday

Thank you, Rebecca Brown, for writing a letter regarding Dr. Donna Smith and our Ketchikan OB Nurses.

When I got home from the hospital with my five-day-old twin girls in June 2005, I told myself that I needed to send the nurses, the hospital, and our doctor(s) a special thank you letter. Time, being what it is, got away from me. Almost every single day for the past almost 13 months, I've meant to write this letter. I guess the silver lining in taking so long to do this is that I continually think of them.

Let's start with A-No. 1, Dr. Smith. Donna took us through a "high risk" pregnancy to a nearly full-term delivery with very healthy, good birth-weight babies. She was so amazing the entire pregnancy. She is a truly gifted OB/Gyn, not only with her skills, but with her care and concern for women and expectant moms. She's also got a great sense of humor. I cannot thank her enough for everything she did for us.

Our twin girls had to be delivered via C-Section so I also got to experience the wonderful surgery nurses, anesthesiologist, and others involved in a C-section delivery. Thankfully, it wasn't an emergency surgery, so the air was light and everyone had a good time. My best memory from the surgery, other than the girls being born healthy, was the doctors singing as they stitched me up. I should have written the name of the song down for the babies books, but the music was great and the entertainers terrific.

Because I had a little bit of difficulty getting some of my internal organs to work properly after the surgery, I got a five-day stay at KGH, so I really got to know my nurses. They were absolutely fantastic. Ingrid was completely amazing all around and took such good care of me especially when I got so sick for a couple of days; Jen was warm and sweet and had a soothing presence (and was our Baby B's nurse during the birth); Esme and Katrina were kind and wonderful throughout the nights; and Nurses Christy (Baby A's Birth Nurse) and Susan, who I didn t get to see as often, were also terrific. I hope I didn't leave anyone out. The point being: my experience was truly wonderful. I did not have one ounce of disappointment with my care or the care of our babies.

We are truly blessed to live on a small island in Southeast Alaska and have such incredible, wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to taking care of us.

That brings up another quick story: Last Friday, June 30th, I had to take one of the twins in to the ER (first ER Trip) when she broke out in hives all over her face, neck, and legs, as we were driving in the car. Dr. Meloche and the ER nurses, Tom, and a couple others, were incredibly attentive. We are truly blessed to have such a great hospital and amazing doctors and nurses to staff it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

One last thank you goes to another very special KGH nurse - my very own sister-in-law, Becky Bolling. Another thing I wanted to get done last year that I never did was write her in for 'Nurse of the Year.' (You would think twins keep me busy or something!) Becky and I are married to brothers of a very large family, and Becky has her own family from out of town that she nurses long distance. Thus, there is often someone sick, injured, or somehow involved with medical treatment. Becky is always caring and concerned and takes time out of her very busy schedule to call and check up on anyone sick or hurt. If she doesn't know a question that someone asks her, she'll research it and find out. She truly is a gifted nurse and loves her job on and off-duty. Becky is currently working on her Masters in Nursing and spent two previous years as the Alaska Nurses Association President. I am so proud of her as I'm sure everyone else on both sides of her family is as well. We're
lucky to have her -- as is Ketchikan.

So to all of the medical professionals who give so much to others, thank you for doing what you do and doing it so great!

With gratitude,

Rhonda Bolling (& Family)
Ketchikan, AK - USA


About: "A mom of three, two of which were born at KGH last year."

Related Viewpoint:

The rumors are true By Rebecca Brown - Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

Send A Letter -------Read Letters

E-mail the Editor

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska