Do You Have What It Takes?

Kevin and Lynda many years ago...1981.   Oh how time slips through our fingers.  Kevin completed a degree from Ole Miss in recreational therapy and worked at NMRC for about 8 years where Lynda lived.  He married the love of his life, Nicole and they have a son, Mason who turned nine today and Graysen who turned five December 2nd.  He has worked at Parkwood Hospital for about five and a half years as a rec therapist.

Beginning Monday, Kevin will begin nursing school!  He'll work week-ends at Parkwood.  It's a two year program that he's going to be working on full-time.  Nicole is finishing up her Masters Degree in Accounting and preparing for the CPA exam.  I am so proud of them both and pray for strength and energy for them both.

Kevin was a blessing to me the night that we went to hospice with Lynda.  He knew all of the right questions to ask and I could tell that he already felt comfortable in the hospital setting, having spent a good bit of time taking care of his Dad a year ago.

It takes a real man to be a good husband and a good daddy.  Kevin is both.  It takes a real man to work with individuals with cognitive impairments and other disabilities at NMRC and to do so in a way that fosters the client's self-esteem and promotes dignity.  Kevin was excellent in his relationships with the clients he worked with at NMRC.  It takes a real man to work with the Parkwood Hospital clients who have many issues that most of us have never heard of.  To be compassionate and stay the course in a profession that many wash out of quickly takes a real man.  I could say the same thing for a real woman.  I'm certainly not trying to be sexist.  My definition of the term "real man" or "real woman" is that that are committed to what they say they'll do.  They are reliable and they show up for the responsibilities that they've accepted.

Kevin will be a wonderful, caring nurse.  How do I know this when he hasn't even begun his first nursing class?  Because I've seen him with his Dad in the hospital as Larry was a few days from going home to heaven.  Because I watched him as he grew up with a disabled sister and stood by her bed as she was dying.  How do I know?  Kevin puts every ounce of energy he has in to anything he sets his mind to do and this will be no different.  I take that back, this will be different because there are many people who have influenced his decision to make nursing his new career with all of the stress and hard work that comes with nursing school, being a Dad, supporting Nicole to complete her dream and juggling the financial challenges that come with this decision.

How do I know that Kevin will be outstanding in the field of nursing?  I know this because God has called him and when God calls us to do something, He provides us with what we need to finish the task.  It is exciting to think about how many lives Kevin will touch in a positive way as a male nurse.  There is such a need to have both female and male nurses as our population continues to age.

I think Kevin will always take Lynda's spirit with him as a nurse.  What a blessing he will be to the families of kids with autism or other cognitive impairments that make hospitals an especially scary or difficult place to be because the regular routines are broken.

I thank God for Lynda being safe and perfect in heaven.  I also thank God for Kevin and his servant heart who wants to minister to those who are sick or injured.  Of course, this wouldn't be possible without the support of his wonderful wife Nicole who is cheering him on while she juggles classes, exams and two children.