“Nurses give hope through their stories.” I heard this from Lee Woodruff who spoke about her role as caregiver for her husband. A roadside bomb in Iraq had wounded Bob Woodruff, a news reporter. His wife spoke on the last day of the Beryl Conference that I attended in Chicago two weeks ago.
Ms. Woodruff was told soon after her husband’s injury that he would not walk, talk, or be the same person. By her account this prognosis was delivered by the neurosurgeon in medicalese.
“Hope,” Ms. Woodruff said “is what patients and family need.” Hope. Not false promises. “Why don’t the doctors give hope like the nurses do through stories?”
When she referenced both “nurses” and “stories” in the same breath, I listened carefully not sure what she was going to say next.
She gave this explanation: nurses told scenarios about other patients they had cared for with a similar diagnosis. These patients eventually were able to improve over time.
“Those stories,” Ms Woodruff said, “gave me hope.”
Over 20 years ago as I lie awake in the middle of the night after my mastectomy, the night nurse came to my bedside. She told me a story about her mother who had had the same diagnosis as I did and also had a mastectomy.
“This was many years ago and she is doing just fine,” she said before leaving me in that dark, chilled room—with hope.
Thank you nurses for telling stories and giving hope.
Nursing Stories: Memories of an Older Nurse 
I’m curious how Bob Woodruff is doing? Did his wife offer any details about his recovery?
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“In February 2007, Woodruff and his wife, Lee, co-wrote a bestselling memoir, ‘In an Instant,’ chronicling his injuries in Iraq and how their family persevered through a time of intense trauma and uncertainty. The Woodruff family established the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) to raise money to assist injured service members, veterans and their families.”
—ABC News Official Biography.
He still works as a reporter. By his own account he is 90% healed. He still has trouble recalling names–“no synonyms for these.”
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Reblogged this on Write Along with Me and commented:
Thank you, Marianna, for pointing out the HOPE that nurses give. We are finding that very true with our hospice nurse from Avera@Home. She listens to our apprehensions, helps minimize concerns, and encourages us to take our trips and live life as normally as we can. We are thankful!
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Thank you for giving such a concrete example of a nurse giving hope.
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There is always hope for healing. Thank you for reminding us. Happy Nurse’s week to you!
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