Girlie Santiago
I am writing this with tears in my eyes. If you don’t understand read it under water.
Oh Toni when I brought my patient to Oncology and you were sitting there and in comes Bill. You explained about the pain you had and that the scan didn’t show anything. Than the pain came back and you were going to Hono. for a PET scan. I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes and you and Bill was so strong.
Those times when we talked on the phone and you told me about your procedures, the new drug, lab work and the dreaded word ‘metastasize’. Sorry you had to be strong while I was with the lump in my throat, my voice cracking and tears in my eyes. It is because of love for you
We worked together for 20 years. You are an amazing nurse. You knew how to weed out the important stuff, you gotta learn how to zig or zag and team work on Medical Unit… it’s survival. You retired Girl that is something!
I knew when you were having a bad day. I told you your voice goes up an octave. And security outside is wondering why are there so many cats.
One year you decided we should have a Fourth of July potluck with Medical-Surgical. So I decided to bring O’doul’s(non-alcoholic). A few of MS staff and myself made a toast. OMG! if it didn’t taste like beer…I was hoping none of my patients are an alcoholic. None of us got fired.
Toni couldn’t you cut the watermelon at home. You gave me the honor to use a steak knife and a small cutting board to cut the largest watermelon you could find. Girl I would do anything for you…
Couple of times I picked up the phone and introduced myself and Bill is on the line wanting to speak to the Witch/bitch…after thinking awhile I told Toni the phone was for her. I told her I am not sure if it was witch or the ‘b’ word but I concluded it was for her…she laughed.
You were so kind to bake apple pie, corn bread and date bars, they were the finest.-
You could have been an interior decorator. The Volcano Teapot is so beautiful. So full of love, just like going to Tutu’s house. Twice that we stayed there my family and I didn’t want to leave.
Well Toni I am not saying goodbye… Till we again. With the warmest of love and embrace,
Lorena PMA
P.S. Girlie is up there… she is brown tan and golden in color. Please give her belly rubs for me.