I'm finally having surgery to remove a tumor on Fri. My doctor has been wonderful. She's been working with a cancer organization to help find funding my surgery. And finally, after a year, the cancer org has agreed to pay for the surgery. I would like to try to find hardy, easy to grow plants for my doctor as well as the nurse who works with the cancer org. My doc's name is Angela Curry, a petite little lady with two small sons (don't know their names). And the nurse's name is Yvonne, who refused to give up even when I did. I plan to get them both some goats milk soaps, but I thought some permanent plants appropriate for them would be nice too.
Neither one is a gardener. So I need something, like daylilies, hostas, irises, ferns, etc., that can just be planted and forgotten. Do you have any plants or any suggestions of plants with their names in them or something with a medical association? Is there a Madame Curry or Currie daylily or something? Or a Doctor such-and-such? My doc is a gynecologist if that leads to any plant ideas.
I have a few plants to trade, and will have more later as they pop up. I also have an online store you could look thru and I could trade you some stuff from there if you have something appropriate for either of these ladies. Any suggestions are welcome. Once I recover from the surgery, which shouldn't take long, I want to put something together for them.
Thank you guys in advance!
NancyAnn
Need Plants for my Doctor and Nurse
Best of luck on your surgery. I hope you will be fine. My girlfriend went through that once and she did great. I'll be thinking of you......
J
Nancy Ann,
What a lovely idea giving them living plants. I think all plants, especially flowers, have a soothing effect on everybody. I would like to send you some tall bearded iris plants. Send me an e-mail with your addy and I will send you a small box. Perhaps their waiting room has a window where you can put these plants for all their patients to enjoy? Good luck on Friday! I'm saying a prayer for you.
Cindy Lou
Hi Cindy Lou,
That's very sweet of you! But I can't accept your generous offer. I would feel guilty for taking something for nothing.
I also have lots of plants myself, including named daylilies, irises, and hostas. But I am really looking for plants specifically suitable for my doctor and the nurse for their own homes--something that says somethign about them, something they can transplant to future homes they may move to. And I'm willing to trade my named plants for something specific.
Even if none of you have any plants, if you just know some names I could look for, that would be helpful. If you have any ideas at all, it would be great.
Cindy Lou, thank you again for your kind-heartedness and generous spirit. I'm finding that it's rare in people these days. You are truly a blessing!
NancyAnn
God Bless you Nancy, I hope everything goes well, let us hear from you as soon as you can. I don't think I have anything that would be suited for the medical profession but good luck with the hunt and the surgery
Sandra
ButterflyChaser, Hugs & Prayers, Judy
Thank you guys for the well wishes. I went to pre-admission screening today, where they draw blood and check vitals and such. Everything is fine. My diet has worked well to lower my blood pressure naturally, without meds. So the surgery is still on for tomorrow. And honestly I'm quite skeered. If I see a white coat, I just might run the other way!
Maybe by this time tomorrow, it will all be over. Already, I can't wait to get back home. I'll be screamin, "Let me outta heeeeeeeere!"
So y'all can't think of any names of plants I could look for with a medical theme or with the names of the nurse and doctor in them? Gee, I thought we'd do some brainstorming here. I owe these two ladies my life. If they hadn't worked things out, I wouldn't be having this life-saving surgery. I would love to find just the right plant or two to say thanks.
I'll let y'all know how all this turns out. Now, I've got to get busy doing something, anything, to keep from going nuts...
NancyAnn
You know - Lamb's Ears 'Silver Carpet' (Stachys byzantina) would be perfect. Back in the good olds days my grandfather says that they used the leaves for bandaids. He grew up calling it the doctor plant. Bluestone Perennials has it for sale - they sell in groups of three so one for each of them and one for you? Or someone might have it on here. It is really easy to grow my grandparents have had theirs for 50+ years and it is still really strong.
I have some lamb's ears. Didn't know it was called the doctor plant. That might be a good idea! I have a nice clump of it, so I could give each one a nice start! Thank you!!!
NancyAnn
As an added bonus, my doc has two sons who are 4 and 7 yrs old--just little lambs. And don't children always love petting the "ears"? That's such a perfect suggestion!!! Thanks for the information!
NancyAnn
I am emailing you a suggestion because I am funny! LOL
Badseed, your suggestion IS funny, and PERFECT!! Can I say it here, altho you won't? A clitoria vine is absolutely the perfect plant for a gynecologist. I couldn't think of anything more appropriate. I have seeds so I'll start those as soon as I recover enough from surgery to think straight. What an idea! My gyne is a timid little woman. I can't wait to see her face when I tell her what it is!
Thank you for the suggestion! Y'all are on a roll today! Great suggestions. And I have these plants/seeds that you've suggested, altho they would have never crossed my mind. I'm so glad I asked you guys. Y'all are so clever!
Any other ideas?
NancyAnn
Chele- why did I know you would come along and say something like that?! Ha! You are too funny!!!!
Jamie
Nancy, I hope things go well for you tomorrow. and that you'll be back on your feet in no time,
I got an email from someone who thought I was you, kathy_ann nancy_ann, LOL her name is terry cole in TN she said she traded with a lady that built her own house and is taking care of her mother and is living in ARK. when she said all this I knew it was Nancy_ann she was looking for and not me I didn't remember her. I think she had your email and was going to contact you.
kathy_ann
sorry, the name is Terry McMurtury not terry cole
LOL Jamie! I don't know what it is about that proper name or that plant, but I am telling you it really embarasses me! The first time I saw the flower, I about fainted! When Nancy Ann said she needed something for a gynecologist, it kept coming to mind, but I just couldn't post it. LOL
The name of a certain kind of "willow" tree does that to me. I'll leave it at that! But I feel like a 12 year old boy thinking about it that way. I am soooo immature. Ha!
LMBO A friend and I went to a garden show and she saw the willows in bud. She kept calling them pussykins. I turned very red and we kept walking along and she kept talking about them. I knew that was not the right name and for the life of me I could not think of the right name. I just kept giggling and people were staring. I finally thought of the correct term and smacked her and yelled "catkins". We both rolled with laughter. LOL
Um, back to the plants......
Let us know when you get home--Nancy
Sandra
Hi guys, the surgery went well. I was home by noon--a bit woozy and nauseous, but otherwise none of the pain the doc predicted. I wonder if they gave me some pain meds in the hospital. I have a little cramping and bleeding now, but nothing too noticeable. I slept the afternoon away and then I felt GREAT! Probably more mental than physical. The surgery really scared me. I try to stay away from docs and havent been in the hospital in 20 yrs. And I really hoped to go another 20 yrs!
My gardening friend Gail showed up about 5:30 this afternoon to check in on me and we ran around the whole evening. OMG, I have so much energy! Probably a psychological high more than anything. THE SURGERY IS OVER!!!! YAAAAAY! Gail and I went to her house to look at her gardens, then out to eat pizza buffet (nausea was gone and I was starving!), then to Lowes to buy a few plants we couldn't resist (I deserve them after all!), and then back to my house where we talked about plants and family for hours. She left here about 11:45 p.m.
Tomorrow, we're going to a seminar on "Organics" that a nursery is hosting. So I'll be busy and distracted. So if I'm in any pain tomorrow, I probably won't notice it. But if today is any indication, there won't be any pain. I'm so unbelievably relieved it's over! I never thought much about surgery before. People have them everyday. But this just terrified me and I almost cancelled it last night. I came very close to picking up the phone and cancelling, like a big chicken. But I didn't. And now it's done. One less thing to worry about!! OMG, I'm still feeling high! LOL
It's 12:30 here now. Guess I better get to bed so I'll feel up to the seminar in the morning. Thank you all for praying for me and wishing me well. And thank you for the suggestions on the plants. Especially you, Chele, for making me laugh pretty hard! I really need a PINK clitoria vine for my gyne. Can you think of anything more realistic? Would definitely put a bit of pink in Dr. Curry's cheek, I'm sure. I'll have to remember to take my camera when I deliver the plant. LOL
NancyAnn
Hey NancyAnn!
I am glad to hear that is all went so well! Good for you! And no pain is great, but be careful, I hear it hits a few days after. But, with the energy it sounds like you have, you'll never even notice it! Heal up soon!
J
Glad to hear all is well
Sandra
I am so glad all went well NancyAnn, I was thinking about you tonight & was about to head to your site for an update when I came across this.
Sadly, Chele & I think on the same track, lol, and that was the only thing that came to my mind. Probably a good thing, too. hehehe
Have fun at your seminar,
Donna
Hi NancyAnn,
It is so nice to hear you came through your ordeal in good shape. Hopefully you are somewhere taking it easy so you can come out fighting come spring. I guess it is a bunch warmer there though. :)
I am glad I was good for a laugh. LOL Being that I don't know you very well, other than reading your posts for a couple of years, I was a little nervous about sending you that email. LOL I realize it's just a plant but if seeing it embarasses me, I can't imagine what it would do (even the name!) to someone faint of heart. hehehe
ROTF Donna. I sat here for a couple of days, thinking about suggesting it, then finally just did it. I was afraid of offending. LOL
Chele- I do that ALL the time! I don't trust my own judgment since I admittedly have a sick/dark sense of humor. But I thought that was pretty funny. Oh, I also had to tell you that you proved my mom's theory wrong. I HATE going to the gyno, well, not that anyone likes it, but I reeeaaaallly hate it. A few years ago the doc asked if I minded if a med student came in and I flipped out! Yes I mind! I don't even want the doctor herself in there, much less some punk student! LOL! Then my mom said it was b/c I hadn't had kids. She said after giving birth 3 times, she is just no longer modest and that kind of stuff doesn't embarrass her anymore. Well you have had SIX kids and you get embarrassed at the NAME of a plant. HAAA!!!! Good stuff man. :)
LOL I also have my babies with a midwife and only let one other nurse in the room. I do of course let my hubby stay and the last three times all the kids came. I offend the extra nurses all the time by refusing to do a thing until everyone leaves but the midwife and ONE nurse. I tell my midwife at the first visit each time, how much I hate it and she tells me she would be worried if I didn't. :)
So you hate it from a pain standpoint or is it a humility thing? I already said my husband could be there, but he has to stay up by my head- no peaking. And if ANYONE asks me if I want a freaking mirror "down there" I am going to kick them in the face. I think my mom laughs at me most because I said the whole process isn't natural. Ha! What is more natural than giving birth, I know, but still. Ewwww!!!!
Y'all are funny!!! I gave birth 20 years ago. I was deeply humiliated to have anyone in "that" area. However, I did suggest that my best friend take my camera to the delivery with us and snap pics of the delivery. That didn't bother me a bit. I knew I would only have one child and I wanted to remember every minute of it. I even did natural childbirth, refusing drugs, because I wanted to experience it all. (What was I thinking???? All that pain!!!) So I have pictures of the entire event, and I treasure them.
However, I'm still deeply mortified at the thought of going to the gyne. My gyne now is a very sweet, timid woman, which makes it much easier, but I still hate it! And I have an appt in two weeks to check on everything. YUCK!!!
Txgarden, tell your mom that I prove her theory wrong too. I've given birth and still I avoid the gyne. I get deeply nervous and even psychotic at the thought of going. I almost chickened out of this surgery at the last minute because I couldn't stand the thought of people seeing me. Fortunately, the anesthesiologist socked the anesthesia to me before anyone else came in the room, and when I woke up, everyone was gone but a nurse, so I have no idea who or how many were there. I like it that way! LOL
And do y'all know that I feel great!! After the surgery, I came home and slept all afternoon. Then a friend came by and we ran around. I couldn't even tell I'd had surgery! I felt great, full of energy, rested. Gail stayed til midnight, and then I couldn't go to sleep after having slept half the day. Gail and I went to an organics growing seminar on Sat and ran around afterwards. And today, I drove over to TN (2.5 hrs from here) to visit my sister and we ran around. I have more energy than I've had in a cuople of years. I feel like I've been let out of a cage! I just can't believe how free my spirit feels now that I don't have to worry about the dangers of the tumor. I'm ALIVE!!! And I just can't contain myself! LOL
Now, I have a plant swap to get ready for! Y'all are all invited if you can make it--May 20 thru May 22nd--a big garden party full of activities, here at my house. If you'd like to come, holler. I created a website full information and an itenerary. And now I can concentrate on getting my gardens in order for the party. What fun!!!!
NancyAnn
Well NancyAnn, I am just so glad you got over your fear long enough to have the surgery. And that you are okay. It's one less thing to dread! But, like someone else said, don't over do it!
You want to know what a freak I am? I heard on the Today Show a story about how they did a study where they gave women low-dose epidurals the moment they check in to the hospital to have a baby. No waiting for some "arbitrary" (their word) time, such as "x" centimeters dilated, etc. Whenever the woman was ready, she got the epidural. Of course the fear has always been that the drugs slow down labor and increase the possibility of need a cesarean so they make you wait until you have gone through quite a pit of labor (pain) before you can get the meds. This study showed that there is NO correlation between c-sections and early epidural administration. In fact, the dose is much lower than a traditional epidural, so the women felt no pain but many were up and walking around b/c your lower half isn't completely numbed as it is with a normal epidural. These low dose but longer term epidural having women had LOWER cesarean rates than their no epidural or traditional "later in labor" epiderals. So they are saying a "no pain birth" is possible. Why am I a freak? I had my annual exam a few days after I saw that story and gave my gyno the 3rd degree. She said "aren't you waiting until your husband is out of school to even start trying to get pregnant?" And I said yes, but what did that have to do with it. And she said "well, it's just the first time a patient has wanted to discuss pain management 18 months before even TRYING to get pregnant." Ha! I am obsessed with it! Add that to my freaky thought of having anyone "down there" and I am certifiable!!!!
Hats off to those of you "natural birth" gals, but if it's all the same to my and my future child's health and safety, I say LOAD ME UP! If I can get my epi at my first sonogram, I will. No pain the whole 9 months? Sign me up! Ha!
Texas, I'm the opposite of you. I don't like drugs of any kind. I'm so anti-drug. One doc quit me and barred me from his office because I refused blood pressure meds. I told him I KNEW I could reduce my bp naturally, with more potassium and garlic and less sodium and weight loss. He disagreed. Wanted to put me on a $50 a month drug, which gave me asthma-like symptoms! Didn't take long to realize that I could die quicker from lack of oxygen than a stroke. And guess what. After reading food labels, eliminating salt from my diet, and eating healthier, I greatly reduced my bp. And now it's in the mid-normal range.
I'm so glad I wasn't in pain after surgery because I didn't want to take pain killers. I'm very careful of what I put into my body. Everything has side effects and some are more serious than you know. I'm also leary of pesticides and this year I am going to grow my own food and try to do it organically. In fact, I'm taking a 4-day seminar on organic growing at a nursery every Sat this month. I've learned my lesson about randomly injecting my body with foods and drugs without considering consequences. Did you know that most meds can affect your kidneys? I've endured child birth and several kidney stones passing, without drugs. As long as it doesn't hurt more than those, I can handle it. Of course I don't like it! But I fear drugs.
NancyAnn
Oh I don't like "drugs" just for the sake of taking them! I had a doctor tell me my gall bladder issues were due to stress, among other things, and tried to prescribe valium! And they wonder why we have so many people addicted to prescription drugs in this country. I don't like the way most meds make me feel, and it scares me to think about becoming dependent on substances. BUT, for child birth, yes, I will be having a few hours of epidural type drugs in me! I am more leery about the whole needle in the spine than the medication itself! BTW- I did decline the valium. :)
Nancy Ann
I'm so glad things went so well, and you are feeling so great after it all. It sounds like you are 'high on life'.
I don't have any suggestions for plants for them, but how about later in the season, some fresh home grown produce, like tomatoes, heirloom or otherwise, organically grown? Or some heirloom cucumbers or some edible pod peas, or spaghetti squash?
I just couldn't resist...
Everyone loves homegrown maters, don't they?
Sue
Hey Sue,
Yes, I do have plans to carry homegrown produce to the doc later in the year. But I wanted to honor the doc and nurse now with a thank you gift. I'm ordering some goats milk soap for them now. The lady sent me a HUGE list of fragrances I can choose from, so narrowing it down to only a few is going to be tricky.
I called the nurse today thank her for saving my life, which I'm certain she did. She refused to quit looking for help for me, long after I had given up. She refused to give up, certain there was a way, she just had to turn over the right stone. Even today, I thanked her for saving my life, and she turned around and thanked me for making her day, rather than accepting any credit for being the angel she is. She's just amazing!
Oh, guess what. My little sister has a small deep freeze and is wanting to get a new one. When she does, I get her old one! So Sue be prepared to tutor me on freezing veggies and fruits. I know you know the tricks!
NancyAnn
How great is that about getting a free freezer? Now you , Terry, and everyone will be able to enjoy fried green tomatoes year round. I will have to get you the absolutely best book on canning and freezing. It almost has it all...as I have read of and learned several other things that work that aren't included in it.
Sue...a tomatohead
I didn't say Free!!! I'll be buying the freezer. My sis and her husband are discussing a price. But if I can grow my own food and freeze it to use during the winter months, I'll save a lot of money on storebought food as well as save my health from salt and preservatives that are in processed foods. I want to freeze fruits as well. I just love frozen fruits. They're a great substitute for ice cream. Frozen peaches are just the BEST. YUMMY!!
N.
Great News!!! The doc called yesterday and the tumor was benign! NO CANCER!! She wants to see me in a couple of weeks to check the surgery site. She said the cervix doesn't heal like other parts of the body and I could develop some seriuos scar tissue. If so, she wants to put some medicine on it to dissolve the tissue. Then,hopefully, I won't have to see another doc for a year or so.
Yesterday afternoon, I treated myself to a perm. Haven't had one in about 10 years. Now I have fluffy hair again. Today, I'm going to a wonderful new eye doctor to get contacts. I was calling around yesterday checking prices and the doc happened to answer the phone. He was very nice, and he's cheaper than anyone else in town. And contacts are a lot cheaper now than they were a few years ago! WOW! Now to lose all this stress weight, and I'll be a brand new person!
NancyAnn
It is a totally glorious day for you!! Congratulations! I bet your energy could not be matched this morning. LOL I am very happy for you. :)
That is great news NancyAnn, I am so happy for you. A perm & contacts too??? You go girl! Your gonna have so many men buzzing around you that your gonna have to sic Sam on them! lol
Donna
Donna, did you see my post at the Ranch? Sam's got a new do too! Yep, I had to do it. I called around about getting him clipped and since he weighs 85 lbs, they want $70 to give him a freaking haircut. So yep, I took the clippers in my own hand. He looks kinda cute this time. I didn't butcher him like last time. His hair is about an inch long all over now--short and sassy. He looks quite happy, a lot cooler. Of course, cutting all that hair must be done in stages. And he is NOT patient. So it will take a week to get it all trimmed just right. Then I'll post a pic at the ranch. Honestly, he won't be nekkid this time. LOL
N.
For which I am sure he is thankful. Poor boy looked downright humiliated last time. LOLOLOL I will watch for a pic.