This question was , what did your loved one do for work or want to be when they grew up?
Me, Keith and Cass just looked at each other not knowing, and then it came to me, Alec would always say,
Kristen was his regular nurse at the Jimmy Fund and Alec adored her (we all did). She was the first nurse he had when he first seen as an infant, and then he had Trisha as his regular nurse for awhile who is amazing too. Just so happened that Nicole knew Trisha from Terri doing her and her families hair, which helped us bond, and Trisha has a great sense of humor so she could always make us laugh even when we were so worried. She would say a prayer when she was drawing Alec's blood and was having a tough time. I have to admit that at first her happiness and sense of humor seemed wrong to me as I was in complete despair, but I soon came to love it and look forward to it and seeing her as she could always make us laugh and smile. A great person and nurse.
Back to Kristen, Alec got Kristen as his regular nurse when Trisha cut down some of her nursing time to do other tasks at the clinic. Kristen was always so caring and gentle and Alec looked forward to seeing her, it was always difficult for him if she wasn't in and he had to have another nurse, it took some convincing and then he was ok. He and Kristen had a routine, Alec loved his routines. Alec's port often wouldn't work as it should and the blood wouldn't come right out. So I started doing the sign of the cross on his port and asking Jesus to let his port work and give us blood every time. Al would always remind me to do this and even Kristen would ask if we blessed Al's port. I loved that Alec's nurses were praying nurses.
One time I brought Alec in and Alec told me that he wanted to go with Kristen all by himself and have his blood drawn. I was heart broken, why didn't he need me, would he be ok without his Mama, but I knew he was in the best hands with Kristen. I told her he wanted to go alone and I stood just outside the open door, he was so brave and then he called for me just before she gave him his needle. I was so relieved, I couldn't imagine him doing that without his Mama or Dada.
I remember Alec telling us that When he grew up he wanted to be Kristen, he didn't say he wanted to be a nurse, but that he wanted to be Kristen. How sweet is that.
We told her he said that and she said, awww Alec.
Kristen is an amazing nurse and sweet kind compassionate person.
"When I grow up, I want to be Kristen."