ANOTHER STUDENT STORY

Welcome!  I have a story about a student that I would love to share with you today.

Her name was Marguerite.  She was excited to be accepted into the Surgical Technology Program. Marguerite stood out among the all-female class, probably because of her morbid obesity.  I had interviewed her about two months before the acceptance date for entrance into the program and at that time I made several suggestions of possible other programs she might be interested in.  No, she said, I just want to work in the operating room.

Marguerite did well in all her first quarter classes.  She was a master with vocabulary and was well prepared for all her exams. Her grades were excellent. Since I had not been able to successfully lead her in another direction, I was hoping the second quarter labs would help her realize how she had several disadvantages for working in the operating room.  My predictions were true, because it became obvious, she would not be able to fit into the regulated surgical scrubs that were for hospital laundry only.  She had argued that her mother, who made all her clothes, could make her size.  No, I countered, you may not wash your scrubs at home.  I then pointed out that she appeared to be having a problem with adjusting to the small work area allotted to surgical technology students during the operative procedure.  There were many tables, several people and various pieces of machinery that had to occupy a confined space.  She began to accept that. 

That was when I offered her a Central Supply Technician as an alternative.  She could wear her own scrubs and launder them at home as there would not be blood or contagious fluids on her clothes.  She seemed happy with that and graduated with the class, but with a diploma in Central Supply Technician.

I did not hear from her again for several years.  It was then that I received a call from one of her former classmates.  This classmate was now a registered nurse working on the patient surgical unit of the local hospital.  She wanted me to know that Marguerite was a patient and was schedule for bariatric surgery the following morning (surgery to reduce the size of the stomach creating weight loss for morbid obesity).  She was very concerned about her friend because her family was trying to talk her out of having the procedure.  Marguerite was ready to cancel.  Her friend explained that she thought I could help her.  I told her to have her call me.

Marguerite called me soon after the conversation with her friend.  After the usual greetings and pleasantries, I asked her to tell me what was going on that her friend was very concerned about her welfare.  She explained that her family was objecting bitterly in regards to the surgery.  They wanted her to come home and forget about it.

I  asked Marguerite some simple questions :

1.  Do you have a boyfriend?

     Her answer:  No

2.  Do you have and drive your own car?

     Her answer:  No

3.  Are you able to shop and buy your own clothes?

     Her answer:  No

I explained that the surgery would change her life and make her more independent and happy, but it was her decision and only hers.

I did not hear from her again for two years.  However, her friend did call me and told me the surgery was successful.  Almost two years to the day, I was loading packages from Wal-mart into my car in the parking area.  I heard someone call my name as Mrs. Knight.  I turned around and saw a lovely young girl walking toward me. She had short black hair and she was wearing a fashionably cute summer outfit with shorts and sandals.  A second look told me this was Marguerite  -- the New Marguerite!

We embraced as we stood there in the parking lot.  She looked amazing! And this is what she said to me:

I have a boyfriend.

I have my own car.

I can shop at the stores.

I am Happy!

A True Story!  *Name has been changed