A Nightingale in shining armour.


Bons Secour Oncology Unit Staff Nurse Jakki Cosgrove
with Cancer Patient Aidan Murphy. 



We all know that saying, 'behind every cloud is a silver lining'. Well, wheather you can call my cloud that of my inoperative Gastro Cancer, or today's take on it (a cloud within a cloud) where my bloods today were too low for my regular infusion of Chemotherapy, which is now deferred to next (toxic) Tuesday, a BIG silver lining to me at present is my medical team in the Glasnevin suburban based Bons Secour Private Hospital. I have previously shared here on my blog, a selphie with my Oncologist Dr. Oscar Breathnach and Nursing Assisant Myra. 
So today, I decided it was time to formally introduce you to another of my brilliant Oncology team. 

I must admit, it did require some persuasion to get this person to come in front of the lens for me this morning. This (Dunshaughlin based) lady is a legend in my books. Wheather it was years ago, when we both volunteered on the committee of the 'Dunshaughlin Cancer Benefit Association' along with her husband Dessie and other like minded individuals or fast forward to today, where ironically she supervises each of my Chemotherapy infusions in the Bons Secour Hospital, I want you all to meet the beautiful person I affectionately call
 'Saint Jakki'. 

I might not have shown it last October, but when I got diagnosed with my inoperable Gastro Cancer, I was sent home and told to WAIT for the Irish Public Health System to kick in (I was at the time under a public hospital referral). I was back then, in my own words, bloody scared. At this time, this lady put me under her angelic wings and commenced back then what she is still doing to this very day, nursing her heart out for me. I can assure you, carrying my diagnosis can be a very lonely place indeed. You feel out on your own, you have the illness, not your friends or family. You feel lost, remember this is shocking news to get, never before envisioned, plenty of questions in the que, but no answers queuing up. 

But then, as I walk for the very first time thru the doors of the Day Oncology Unit in the Bons Secour Hospital, all of what I just mentioned, churning over and over in my demented mind, this shining light with an extremely genuine and caring smile comes over to me. Before I even think of what question to ask first, my perceived wonderings are already pre thought off and duly answered. Five minutes later, each of my newly appointed medical team are brought in to a private room and introduced to me, along with a very reassuring chronological timeline of medical events. 

All of this handled and indeed carfully choreographed by one person.
By my nurse, my friend, my councillor, my Saint. 

I respectfully present to you, Oncology Staff Nurse, Jakki Cosgrove. 


Thank You Jakki. 
(and I apologise already for any embarrassment). 

 

 
         (Click email address to say hello).




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Image
Sounds like the action-packed wording from a popular music track, yes that one, the  twelve bar blues-form song, written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name, Charles E. Calhoun. Not to confuse you, yes, it was recorded most  successfully by Bill Haley & His Comets. But my comparison has nothing to do with a lively fun dance track, rather instead to be shaked, rattled and rolled in an unpleasant physical way. I have been missing quiet a bit from my usual social media haunts of late and these three words of Shake, Rattle and Roll from an inconvenient truth as to why. As I’m sure you are aware, when you get blasted by Chemo, that blast can be wearing a wide angled lens. In my situation, part of my bowel got caught up in the crossfire. This of course creates a huge discomfort for me and of course, destroys that golden crumb piece of appetite I try desperately to hold on to, which in turn gives me the firepower to deal with my ongoing Chemotherapy.  The resolution
Read more

A good mannered daughter, holding the hammer and a limerick pops up.

Image
Aoife, aged 2.  Her first words were 'Ta-Ta' Just over 7 years ago, the above photograph was taken. Alison my wife is my hero and always will be, no question, but Aoife is the apple of my eye, no contest.  I know the next bit might, OK 'does' sound totally biased but I can assure you (and those that know us both will testify) as an only child, we do not have Aoife spoilt and when we are out, be it ballooning, in a friends house, out shopping or meeting people for the first time, it gets remarked on more than often,  how mannerly our little Miss is. I can only accept 33% of the blame here. From day 1, myself and Alison would gently but routinely massage the manners in to Aoife. For the first 2 years it was just  "What do ya say Aoife? Say Ta-Ta"  and we moved on from there. So that's 66%, where's the other 33%? ... ..It's Aoife ! You can bring a horse to water but can't make it drink. That works for kids as well as horses by the way lol. I'm
Read more

The magic of Mondovi with the Spirit of Saint Pio.

Image
St. Pio in flight, Mondovi, Italy.  Photo: Wendy Tree I’m home a week from this amazing trip and thru sleeps, missed calls and timings, myself and my partner in Ballooning in Mondovi, Sir Andrew of Blagdon, we keep missing each other. Like ships in the night ? More like hot air balloons in the day I thought. So calling Andy yesterday, going to his voice mail (he was out shooting game on his estate, as one does), after the beep,  my words ‘Thank You’ had just vibrated from my vocal chords when I just burst into tears. I thought, after the wake of a few days, I had my mind settled, but it was having none of it. There was a balancing of sorts going on and I wasn’t allowed stop it. My tears, I’m pretty sure drowned out my sincerity of the Thank You, my main purpose of the call, not just for Andy, but for the entire Somerset crew who were all part of it , where heavily included to. Now, to my embarrassment, my emotive albeit tearful Thank You was committed to an answerphone.. eeek ! Friend
Read more