When my mother became violently ill in May of this year, the extraordinary staff and nurses at Wesley Gardens acted quickly. They sent her to the ER staff and nurses at Baptist East who, in turn, sent her to Flowers Hospital in Dothan.
Once there, she spent her 94th birthday in a hospital bed, her mind ravaged by dementia and her body racked with pain, unable to attend to her most mundane personal needs. And yet, when she gazed into the smiling faces of young nurses who served her day and night, I couldn’t help but notice a sudden joy and love in her eyes, as if looking through a window into the glories of heaven, as if the Lord himself was smiling back at her.
Normally, I dread visiting hospitals. But I began to relish going to the sixth floor of Flowers Hospital because those visits revealed many wonderful deeds of selfless service from the kind of people this world desperately needs more of—nurses. When I thanked one of them as she was departing my mother’s room, without hesitation, she turned and said, “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Where do caregivers like these come from?
The famous American poet Joyce Kilmer wrote: “Only God can make a tree.” Only God can make from a tiny seed a vast system of limbs and leaves that protect and sustain life within it and beneath it. The tree provides shade to the weary, food for the hungry, shelter for the many creatures in need of a home. It cares for and heals without a thought for its own existence, having sprouted from the Earth to soothe and comfort others. The tree never complains, even when it’s cut down. The tree is nature’s nurse. And like a tree, the nurse gives and keeps on giving, often without thanks. Nursing is more than a job. It’s a calling. And for those with eyes to see, suffering can be a window that exposes us to a rare form of beauty—the nurses who humbly serve us. After a week of watching these nurses engaging in what most of us would consider unpleasant tasks as they served desperate patients like my mom, I’ve come to believe that only God can make a nurse.
My mother was a dental assistant for many years. She has always been like a nurse: loving, compassionate, beautiful inside and out, and treating everyone with kindness and respect. She has never turned a blind eye to the suffering of others. Her first husband, my dad, abandoned her and three little boys under eight when she was only about twenty-five. But her positive attitude, devotion and hard work got us through some difficult years. She’s a true saint who reserves all praise for her own mother, never for herself. We were blessed that Baptist East ER referred her to Flowers Hospital where she received the care she deserved.
Flowers has come a long way from the 12-bed hospital opened by the late Dr. Paul Flowers three-quarters of a century ago. It began humbly in a home. The doctors and staff knew each other well. They treated patients as family and neighbors, a tradition that Flowers prides itself on continuing to this day. Seven and a half decades later, one gets the distinct impression from simply walking the halls, asking for directions and interacting with staff, that Flowers’ family values spirit is alive and well.
Especially, I appreciated the display of God’s word throughout. One sign was titled: Verse of the Week:
The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my
song I praise Him.
A large display in the entrance lobby reads:
Prior to his death, Dr. Flowers was asked what he thought of the extensive growth the hospital had experienced. He responded: “I will be perfectly frank. Sometimes when I turn in a driveway and look up at it, I get a lump in my chest because I am truly proud of it. At the same time, I am humbly appreciative of all the many good people who have made all of this possible by the loving service they have given. And I am grateful to the community which has allowed it to happen.”
Today, Flowers serves the tri-state area of South Alabama, Southwest Georgia and Northwest Florida. It’s medical member staff numbers in the hundreds with a comprehensive range of specialties and subspecialties. And I can testify from first-hand experience that among its thousands of employees are some of the most compassionate and dedicated nurses on the planet.
We must not forget that it is the simple, faithful, heartfelt acts of love and kindness that truly make a difference in this world.
When I travel to other cities, I always ask people I meet, “What’s your hospital like? How do you rate medical services in this community?” Why do I ask these questions? Because I’d like to grow old in a city that has great health care and compassionate nurses. Dothan is now high on my list. If I’m ever hauled into an ambulance, I’ll be shouting, “Take me to Flowers!”
Happy 4th of July to American nurses everywhere!
Jeff Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and speaker. He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. His novels include Lawson’s Bluff (2021); The Slash Brokers (1998). He also manages Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC at The Waters in Pike Road, Alabama. Contact Jeff at Jeffbarganier@knology.net. You may print out his features at www.jeffbarganier.com and take them with you when you travel!