Our Burn Team

Some people go to work and it's just that - a job.  They are just paying the bills or getting by for now.  But a small few get to go to work and make a difference in peoples lives.......... 

 I have been working for almost 10 years as a hygienist.  Yes, it's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.  And plus I wear gloves.  And a mask.  And a gown.  And glasses.  And an invisible force field.  I really don't even think of it as gross.  It's just spit and blood  - no big deal to me. Through out all the years of working, I couldn't  help but become a wiser individual. Things you learn in a dental office can be applied directly to your  life and I would like to share them with you.  Although, I have millions of life lessons, this is a blog not a self help book.  So to narrow it down, I have chosen my three most important:

1. Never try to get a "stray" hair off of a  woman's  face - sometimes it's attached. And  don't try to explain what you just did.  Do not say - "Oh I didn't notice it was part of your moustache". Just be quiet and pretend like nothing happened. 

2. When a child tells you they don't like the flavor grape - just believe them.  Do not test your theory that they will grow to like it - unless you enjoy cleaning up Doritos and Air-Head flavored throw up. 

3.When you tell someone to bite- make sure to move your finger.


Some people are blessed to go to work and truly get to change people's lives.  They have the honor of taking a broken person and making them whole again.  If you work in the LSU Burn Unit - you get to do that everyday you go to work.  I will FOREVER be grateful to these people.  For the past 79 days, they have taken care of every need that Heath has had - whether it was physical or emotional.  In the first critical days, Heath was probably the most watched patient they had.  There was not a breath he took or a hand move he made that they did not witness or monitor.  The compassion that they have shown us as a family is unmatched.  They have answered every question that has crossed our lips with professional grace and a confident knowledge.  These men and women are trained professionals that have patient care as their number one priority.  They come to work everyday knowing that they are taking care of someone who is going through the worst, most painful time in their life.  They know that each moment hurts worse than the last and they see what fire devastates.  They are the ones that know how far each and every patient comes.  Each shift that changes is just as good as the one before - the quality doesn't change.  When you talk to Dr. Sittig and Dr. Richardson about their nurses -they are so proud and confident in everyone of them.  If those two Drs. give a compliment you can bet its a pretty high honor.  As much as I can speak good of the professionalism and care they have provided for Heath, I can't speak enough to you about the friendships we have formed with them.  When I say its going to be bittersweet to leave, its because we have found an extended family in these people.  They have brought food for us from their kitchens, cried with us and laughed with us. They are just good people.  We will never forget them. They have made a difference in our lives.   When Heath came off that helicopter on August 25th they already knew he was coming and they were waiting.  When they rushed him through those double doors they began fix what was broken.  I will never be able to repay them.  They saved my little brothers life - plain and simple.   The only thing I can do is offer them my most sincere and humblest "Thank you".


 Dr. Sittig and Dr. Richardson : We are blessed to know you and know your "work".  Thank you doesn't really cover it.  You are the kind of doctors that every patient wants and every medical student should want to be.

Mike: - You have gone above and beyond and we are so grateful.
Big Daddy (aka David), Ryan, Kim, Jessica, Virginia, Jennifer, Susie, Angie, Susan, Debbie, Ann Marie, Dan, Robert Dale,Emily, Heath, Carol,    - Ya'll just don't know how much you mean to us.  Thank you isn't enough. 
Shannon, Shannon and Natalie - He will rope again thanks to ya'll.
Lloyd, Glaydis, Dana, Ms. Linda, Shawn, Janice, Sara, Beverly, Ginger, Cynthia, Scott, Annie, Amanda, Terrie - Ya'll are so precious.  We've come to love you.  Thank you. 
Jewels - You aren't going to be able to get rid of us.  We love you. 
And to anyone else that has had a hand in Heaths recovery at the Burn Unit I have not named (and not by intention - only because of brain damage) : Thank you!

Tomorrow will mark a bittersweet end.  Heath will be discharged from LSUMC and be able to return home.  When we leave tomorrow we won't be gone long, he will be back. But it will be for outpatient clinic once a week so they can assess how he's doing and he will continue his physical therapy there.  The days ahead will not be easy.  There will still be pain and and healing left to do.  There will be days when he doesn't want to do physical therapy.  He will be finding his way - trying to fit back into a world that he was suddenly jerked away from. His journey is not ending here, a new chapter is only beginning.

'Til Tomorrow