Louisiana Sandusky here.  I am on break as I write this; thought an update on my patient was in due order ...

My patient is a 52-year-old woman who was injured in a car wreck.  A teenaged boy who happened to be "under the influence" of alcohol plowed into her car, seriously injuring the female occupant that was inside ... and killing himself.  The boy was only 17 and had twice the legal limit of alcohol in his bloodstream.  The accident snarled traffic for hours.

This incident happened on January 14, nearly a month ago.  Ceiridwen was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until just last week; she is now on the fifth floor, here in Orthopedics, where I am working.  She is a very easy patient to take care of: very talkative and already wanting to go home.  I told her while she is doing very well, she is in no way ready to be able to go home.  Ceiridwen needs a lot of extensive physical and ocupational therapies; after she gets out of here, she will probably be shipped to the rehabilation unit of our hospital.

Ceiridwen is regaining her lost appetite but she keeps begging Patrick to bring her a Whopper or a Texas style-cheeseburger from Jack in the Box: she clearly hates hospital food, although, in my opinion, I happen to think that Nashville Memorial has good food!

I have enjoyed taking care of Ceiridwen, but it has taken me a while to learn to say (let alone, SPELL) her name correctly.  I have heard plenty of strange or unusual names in my day, but Ceiridwen is ... well, highly unusual.  :)

Ceiridwen has been showing me pictures of her and her brother when they were children back in their native Ireland.  She has also told me that she wants to keep in contact with me when she gets back to Ireland because according to her, "I was a good wee nursie".  She said she has enjoyed getting to know me.  Well, the feeling is mutual: Ceiridwen has proved to be a most delightful patient.

Now why can't ALL my patients be as agreeable as Ceiridwen O'Malley?

One thing is for certain: I will continue to keep Ceiridwen and Patrick O'Malley in my prayers once Ceiridwen goes to the rehab part of our hospital or especially when they go back to Ireland.  I wish both of them well and I will probably never forget this bubbly little red-headed woman with the big, sparkly green eyes and tinkling laugh!

~To be continued.~