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{Straight From the Heart} *Your Best Shot* 11/27/00
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It is with great pleasure that we introduce two new writers to SFTH. Tom and Laura Lagana are two authors who are putting together Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul, and Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul. Today we get to share a story by Laura entitled, "Your Best Shot", which appears in Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul. After you read it, do two things: Write her back and let her know how the story touched you and then take some time to read about how you can help put this wonderful book into the hands of those in prison! Tomorrow we will run another story from the book and then next week we'll run a story or two from the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul. They are still looking for submissions so check out the info below on how you can submit your story for a Chicken Soup book!
Have a great week everyone!
Michael
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Your Best Shot
By Laura Lagana
"Show kindness toward another in their troubles, and courage in your own."
Princess Diana
The world is filled with beauty, joy and wonder, along with ugliness, hatred and violence. In my youth, I always believed that things were either black or white; people were either good or bad; that is, until I grew up.
When I became a nurse I saw many different sides of life, witnessed things that defied explanation and learned life isn't always fair. As I became a wife and mother, I discovered the gray zone that lies between the black and the white. I also discovered that there are no guarantees in life. You give it your best shot and hope that it's good enough. With this same attitude my husband and I approached parenthood. We both agreed that we would do our best to raise our two sons to be honest, law-abiding citizens.
I viewed both parenthood and my part-time position as medical-surgical nurse at one of our local hospitals as a journey into the unknown. Parenthood and nursing always yielded unexpected challenges and sometimes hidden rewards. I faced fear many times during my twenty-year nursing career.
One December morning, I was "pulled" to the Protective Care Unit (PCU). When there was a staffing shortage in the hospital, the nurses would be "pulled" to that particular department that was in need. For some reason, I feared the PCU. I knew the unit was used to isolate patients suffering from infectious diseases, for reverse isolation to protect patients with compromised immune systems, and to house inmates from the local prison who needed treatment.
For whatever reason, my fear remained strong. After morning report, the change-of-shift meeting where patient progress and updates are given, I prepared to care for my assigned patients. Suddenly I was forced to face my worst fear.
I was assigned to take care of a prison inmate -- a convict. Suddenly I stopped breathing. I could hardly swallow let alone speak, so I began to review my patients' charts. I reviewed the inmate's chart last, foolishly trying to postpone the inevitable. I decided to conceal my fear and meet my patients.
When I met the prisoner he wasn't at all what I expected. In my mind's eye I expected to see a large, disheveled, abusive character -- instead, I saw a frightened, sickly child who desperately needed help. Jamie had appendicitis and was shackled to the bed, which was customary procedure for inmates. A correctional officer was posted at his bedside around the clock.
Jamie was amazingly frail and only several years older than our own two teenage sons. He tried to find a more comfortable position, despite the shackles. After I introduced myself and pulled up a chair, I began to explain his upcoming surgery to him. I quickly lost my fear, and I was determined to help alleviate his fears by preparing him for the operation.
Despite his obvious pain and discomfort, Jamie was eager to talk to me. As I took his vital signs and began washing his scarred face, he said with a grimace, "You know, you remind me so much of my mother. You could be her sister. You're so much like my dear, sweet mother. We had such good times. This time of year we'd bring in that huge Christmas tree, and then decorate it. Dad made sure to put that star on the top. Then we'd bake all kinds of cookies with icing and candies. Then, on Christmas morning there'd be hundreds of presents under the tree, and a big fire blazing in the stone fireplace. Oh, those were the good old days," he said.
When the vomiting returned, Jamie had to stop for a few minutes. After I cleaned him up, he continued to reminisce. "I sure miss those days. And I really miss my six brothers and sisters -- three of each you know."
"I'll bet you do miss those good times. At least you have wonderful memories," I replied. I didn't know what else to say. I couldn't stop wondering. How does such a nice young man go so wrong? Just what happens to a person? I never asked, because I didn't want to know -- and I didn't need to know.
I read Jamie's chart and made a few notes. As I looked over his history and admission notes, I couldn't believe my eyes. Jamie had been abandoned at birth and had never known a mother or father. He spent his entire twenty-two years going in and out of foster homes and juvenile detention facilities -- never knowing his natural parents -- never knowing unconditional love.
This time, Jamie was serving real time in prison. I knew he had to have done something serious. I'm glad I didn't know what it was. I didn't want to think in terms of black or white, good or bad. I prayed that I could be a good enough mother to my sons so this wouldn't happen to them -- but there are no guarantees.
The time for surgery approached. The orderly pushed the gurney and accompanied me to Jamie's room. When the gurney and bed were aligned and the officer released Jamie's shackles, we helped him onto the gurney. As I pulled the sheet over him and placed the green paper cap on his head, Jamie looked at me through glassy eyes, a sign that the preoperative medication had taken effect. I felt the urgency to say something, so I took his hand in mine and said, "When you are released from prison, don't ever go back -- make sure you stay out. Will you do that for me?"
He squeezed my hand and with a dry-mouthed, raspy voice responded, "Thanks Mom ... Thanks. I'll do my best."
I don't know if I made much of a difference that day, but I'd like to think so. Jamie, if you are reading this story, I pray to God that you are reading this from the "outside." I hope you gave it your best shot.
Laura Lagana
NurseAngel@LauraLagana.com
Send Laura an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
Reprinted by permission of Laura Lagana. ©1999 Laura Lagana.
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Laura Lagana, RN, is a registered nurse, professional speaker, member of the National Speakers Association, and author of the upcoming inspirational book about
nurses, patients and caregivers. She may be reached at Success Solutions, P.O.
Box 7816, Wilmington, DE 19803-7816; E-mail: NurseAngel@LauraLagana.com
Web site: http://www.LauraLagana.com
"Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul"
NOT available in bookstores -- yet.
To receive a copy of "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul"
autographed by co-author Tom Lagana, please send a check
for $17.20 ($12.95 + $4.25 shipping and handling) payable to
"Tom Lagana," along with the name to autographed it to,
shipping address, and mail to:
"Prisoner's Soul" - Autographed Copy
PO Box 7816
Wilmington, DE 19803
"Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" is distributed free in bulk to
jail, detention center and prison administrators, chaplains, librarians,
and counselors who request them for the inmates they serve. For
additional details, please contact the co-author, Tom Lagana, at e-mail
Success@TomLagana.com
To help us print and distribute additional books, you may send your
tax-deductible contributions made payable to "C-Cubed Institute" and mail
to:
PO Box 7816
Wilmington, DE 19803
Each $50 contribution will allow us to produce a box of 24 books at our
next printing for shipment to a prison that requests them for the inmates
they serve.
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"Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul" -
Deadline Extended -
Please submit your original, true, touching, and inspiring
short stories about people helping and serving others.
The stories should be less than 1,000 words and
submitted by December 31, 2000. Contributing Authors
will be paid $300 for each of their stories published in
our book.
Email submissions to: VolunteerSoul@TomLagana.com
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From: SnoEowl@aol.com Al Batt
I just want to thank the many, many people who wrote to me. I was amazed by the number of people I heard from and their kindness. I tried to reply to everyone, I apologize if I missed some. I do so appreciate the thoughts and prayers offered. Unfortunately, my father-in-law died of an aneurysm yesterday. He was a wonderful man and I will miss him. All the sadness is at our end because he is feeding the hummingbirds in heaven while we are slogging our way through another miserable Minnesota winter. Thanks again.
God bless you all,
AL Batt
If you remember, we ran a story about Al's Father-in-law on November 17. If you missed it, you can check it out in our archives at:
Please Stay
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/111700/
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Thought For The Day:
"In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich"
(Henry Ward Beecher)
Verse for the Day:
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap."
Luke 6:38
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"You have to eat a lot of cereal before you find the free toy."
Parent's Thought For The Day
People often ask me, "What's the difference between couplehood and babyhood?" In a word? Moisture. Everything in my life is now more moist. Between your spittle, your diapers, your spit-up and drool, you got your baby food, your wipes, your formula, your leaky bottles, sweaty baby backs, and numerous other untraceable sources--all creating an ever-present moistness in my life, which heretofore was mainly dry." -- Paul Reiser, Babyhood
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.
Tom Landry
Deep Thought For The Day:
"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography
and the dancers hit each other."
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/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html
Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:
Writer's Guidelines
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/
The copyrights to the stories that appear here are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. This email may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted, and been given permission, by the individual writer.
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