What not to give us for Mother's Day
Plus: Medical Motherhood Games winners!
Medical Motherhood Games winners!
Last November, my 14-year-old son went in for a full day of surgical procedures: a few on his leg and another for his g-tube. We stayed in-patient overnight and he was in a great mood. (During post-op recovery, he told everyone who came in the room how much he loved anesthesia and to make sure to tell the anesthesiologist how great she was.)
Late that evening, a nurse was in our room telling a CNA about some training she had received in caring for someone who can’t move their own body. My son — whose attention is usually glued to his iPad — piped up, chipper as could be. “YOU got training??” he said from the hospital bed, then pointed to me with his whole arm, arching his back in the way that he does when he’s excited. “SHE just had to figure it out!”
That’s what we do, mamas. We just figure it out. Every day, in so many ways, big and small. Not because we want to, or because someone expects us to, or because we have been taught how. But because our babies need us to.
So here’s to you this Mother’s Day: Figuring it out, one day at a time.
This 2025 contest is special because all of the entrants get a prize! A hearty thank you to our donors! In addition to an annual subscription to Medical Motherhood, the prizes this year are: Moveabilities’ six-lesson therapy series; Forest Avenue Press’ copy of the memoir Plums for Months; Nebula Notebook’s annual subscription; and a gift basket from Oregon Family to Family Health Information Center. I’ll be sending emails to the winners of their prizes individually.
Hayley Palmer wins the Fastest (probably) New Wheelchair Delivery! It's a blazing fast finish in the race for mobility! From the equipment clinic on January 28th to delivery on May 6th — just over three months! That’s practically warp speed in the world of custom wheelchair orders.
Jennifer Rogers wins Toileting Power Lifting! Every day, it's a full-body deadlift, squat, and pivot combo worthy of a medal. No crowd, no glory — just raw strength, perfect form, and unstoppable parent power. This is caregiving with gains!
Heidi Fiedler wins a four-peat in Medication Changes, a masterclass in pharmaceutical management! Our caregiver keeps her cool, adjusts the playbook, and guides the team through every twist and turn like a seasoned pro. That’s clinical agility at a championship level!
Denie Sydney wins the 60cc Syringe Sprint! The clock starts at the first sign of gagging — a split-second warning before the tidal wave hits. Our champion caregiver grabs the syringe like a relay baton and dives into action, racing the vomit to the finish line. It's precision, speed, and nerves of steel in this high-stakes gastric showdown!
Finally, in a high-stakes elite emergency maneuver, Dawn Schoppe wins Pit Stop to Vomit in the Kitchen Sink Between the Bed and the Couch For Venting! The clock is ticking, the pressure is rising — her child is gassy, bloated, and ready to blow. There’s no time for protocol — we bypass the wheelchair, sprint through the house, and make a photo-finish slide into the kitchen sink for a triple unload! That’s three rounds in the sink, followed by an expert couch transfer for venting. The price? One pulled deltoid and a four-day recovery for our fearless caregiver. That’s dedication, grit, and tactical brilliance under fire!
Thank you to all of our elite caregivers for their dedication to the craft. Until next year!
Uh-huh, spa treatments, food, and time to ourselves is what we really want! Maybe some chocolate and a bottle of wine… mmm.
(But, if you’re someone who likes books, plants, yoga or cleaning, you’re not alone and to each their own! We support all mamas here.)
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
On the second Sunday of every month, we feature Where is the Manual for This?!, an editorial cartoon about the medical mom life from Lenore Eklund.
Medical Motherhood’s news round up
The round up will be back next week. Enjoy your Mother’s Day!
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I love you Shasta Kearns! Your newsletters have made me a more informed medical mom. Thank you for celebrating OUR OLYMPICS every year instead of every 4 years. We're on the clock 365. We've all perfected our techniques by probably practicing more than athletes because we don't get off days or rest days. Kudos to ALL SPECIAL NEEDS MOMS AND MEDICAL MOMS everyday of the year!
Happy Mother's Day to YOU!💜