A band of camels, a field of olives, and a Syrian hospital nurse all in one day. Thank you for your prayers. So many good things happened today, and God and my companions have been gracious and patient with my impatience. Our trusty driver stocks our hot van with an insulated box of snacks and drinks, and watches the clock to keep us on track. My translator today has professional experience and has translated for journalists from such media as the Los Angeles Times.
Unfortunately, I don’t have photos for you: not of the camels (they rushed by too fast), not of the olive fields (they were on the wrong side of the van) and not of the Syrian nurse (actually, I have a photo, but…).
However, I can give you a line or two from the Syrian nurse.
Once they brought a 15-year-old boy that was shot by mistake because he was caught between the opposition and the government. We hardly treated him and he was still leaving the intensive unit and the government officers were at the door, they wanted to take him for jail. One of the nurses kept crying and begging the officer until they left him.”
In nursing school, they taught us that as a nurse, we are often the advocate for the patient. I’m not sure that I have ever heard a better “nurse advocate” story than I heard today. When she said (actually, my translator said!) “One of the nurses kept crying and begging the officer,” I was so afraid the story was going to end badly. So when she said, “until they left him,” my heart nearly burst open.
At the extreme, this is what it means to be a nurse!
(In lieu of camels, trees, or a Syrian nurse: our photographer/journalist team. Half of this project depends on Rosetta’s photographic excellence. She also makes great coffee, which is why I am wide awake at 1am. Good night!)