.Thank You, Walmart Lady.

It was Monday the 7th of May, and as I started my first day at Intermountain Healthcare, I kept waiting for an "ah ha" moment. You know, that moment when you realize that something you have dreamed of forever is actually coming true. At first I thought it might happen as I walked through the doors for the first time, but no such luck. Then, I thought it might be the moment when I took the picture for my Badge ID....but alas!...Nothing. As the day went on, I kept waiting and waiting...and nothing happened. On my drive home, I was as disappointed as could be. Was this not what I had been dreaming of since I was a teenager? Wasn't this an instrumental part of my plan? WHY WASN'T ANYTHING HAPPENING!?! I couldn't figure it out. For days leading up to these important moments, I was waiting in anticipation for that one pure time, that it all clicked...and yet, it never came.
     On Wednesday, I started my first day on the floor. I trained and trained until my brain couldn't store anymore information. I was running around like a mad woman and making mistakes left and right. " You'll get this," said my trainer. "Just give it some time." Time?! TIME! I had no time! The only time I sat down was to go to the bathroom! I was overwhelmed to say the least. My trainer tried to help me, but I was just so overwhelmed that I couldn't take anymore information. "Tomorrow." she said simply with a reassuring smile on her face....like I was just going to magically understand all of it overnight. As I walked to my car, I felt the ache in my feet and back with each step I took. "Is it worth it?" I thought. I took a sigh of relieve and started my ignition.
       I knew I needed to cheer myself up, so I headed to Walmart to look for some new scrubs. If I was going to fail miserably like the day before, I wanted to do it in style. As I looked at the scrubs, wanting to find them as fast as possible so I could lay down, a lady asked me a question from behind. "Do you work for IHC?" I turned around quickly and wondered how in the world this lady knew where I worked! "Yes?" I said with a puzzled look on my face. "Oh, I just noticed your badge...what hospital do you work at?" With a feeling of embarrassment, I realized I had neglected to take of my badge. As I replied with a simple answer "McKay Dee Hospital," I saw a sadness grow over her face. As the little, old, and gray lady stood there, tears filled her eyes. "My husband lost his battle to cancer 2 months ago while staying at McKay Dee. You all took such good care of him, better care than I ever could. Thank you so much for doing what you do. Don't quit being such sweet people, we may not say thank you often, but we all mean it."
     As she walked away, a rush of clear bliss swept over me. A feeling of gratitude and meaning....an "ah ha" moment. I picked out the scrubs I wanted and quietly walked out to my car. When I got home, I hung up my IHC badge and watched as the words "MADDIE: Patient Care Tech" swung around in the air. In that one moment, that little old Walmart lady not only gave me the "ah ha" moment that I had so wanted.... but she made going back day after day, that much easier.