Grace General Hospital - Our Days of Grace Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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‘VaCecUcbncf rfclcOieM Lieutenant-Colonel Meekings, Lieutenant- Colonel Everett, Honoured guests, classmates, little sisters. Moms and Dads - and - as quite a number of the girls in our class have already at¬ tained a degree, that of Mrs. , we extend a special welcome to their husbands. Three years ago, this evening was but a dream; today it is reality. In recalling all the things we have done and learned perhaps we need not be sur¬ prised that the years have passed so quickly. When we started out on 200 Evanson Street in an old but homey residence we were very unsure of ourselves and very unknowing; yet we tried so hard not to look TOO dumb! Initiation proved that we were at the bottom of the ladder but, also, that we were part of the group of student nurses. The first five months were mainly study. We never knew that we had so many bones and muscles; but when after eight hours on the ward they began to ache and creak, we ceased to doubt their existence. Soon - at a ceremony we will always remember - we received our beautiful white caps. - And now we LOOKED like nurses. By this time we had come to know our roommates rather well. It sure was nice to come off the ward and have someone to listen to our complaints. Occasionally one heard complaints about the roommate as well. One liked it cold - one liked it hot; one went to bed early - the other went late. Then there were those who read and re-read their diaries at twelve midnight while the roommate in the next bed wanted to sleep. Oh well, everybody has to do a certain amount of adjusting and as Miss Seeman said to us early in our training, Just keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground. It seemed but a short time and we were Intermediates. We celebrated this im¬ portant date with a hayride. As the weatherman would have it, we had rain. Needless to say we were all soaked to the skin but since we wound up the party with food and drinks nobody suffered any ill effects. Our panacea for everything was food, if I re¬ member correctly. It was during our second year that our Little Sisters entered the School. How pleasant! I remember evenings spent discussing episodes which happened to us during our first year which might have enabled them to see that we, too, had had our bad days among the good. Then came the time to branch out into different areas. Seven o ' clock was a poor hour to go to work but when it was the first day to the Operating Room it was worse. There were those who liked it and those who didn ' t, but we all admired the skill and dexterity of the surgeons and their capable assistants. In this place we were glad to be gowned, gloved and masked so that none of the doctors would in the future recognize any of us as that student who made that foolish mistake during the operation. Then there was the scrub nurse (a student) who got the three individual ties in her gown each done up in three knots by one of the surgeons. Next day she was innocently asked by him how she had managed to remove her gown. Obstetrics was a new experience. Birth is a miracle and it made us wonder and marvel. What frail, innocent little squirming bundles we worked with in the nursery. Those who had never looked after such small creatures handled them like glass but soon found that they could be loved and cuddled with no apparent damage. The students were always accused of spoiling the babies. In March of our second year we moved to Children ' s Hospital for a ten week stay. Children all day long and what a variety of them. One had to adjust rapidly to their fancies. If they wanted to use you as a horse, then a horse you must be. I am sure many of us got a good review of colouring and relearned the art, probably forgotten since our childhood. Nevertheless we learned much about the physically ill child and also about their normal growth and development. I am sure we will never forget those floats, milkshakes, or chocolate-covered doughnuts for coffee break! The residence lacked some sound-proofing and it was quite a simple matter to carry on a four-way con¬ versation between two rooms. Since our motto was no secrets in this family , that 18 was no hindrance.

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i ' Jtu%4e’ ' Piayest Father, I have knowledge so will You show me now How to use it wisely and find a way somehow To make the world I live in a little better place. And make life with its problems a bit easier to face - - Grant me faith and courage and put purpose in my days. And show me how to serve Thee in the most effective ways So all my education, my knowledge and my skill May find their true fulfillment as I learn to do Thy will — And may I ever be aware in everything I do That knowledge comes from learning and wisdom comes from You. - Unknown

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We had returned to Grace for just a short time when we packed up again. This time for a 12 week stay at Selkirk. Psychiatry taught us much about others and more about ourselves. Here again, the residence was different. We sure utilized the fire escapes as a great means of attaining the fresh night air. The care packages from home were greatly appreciated. Some came all the way from Regina, Saskatchewan. Intensive Care was a valuable three week experience. Here we saw patients who were critically ill and we also saw them gradually improve till they were well enough to be transferred to the wards. Here we realized what intensive nursing means and how the patients profit therefrom. Casualty! In this place one needed three times as many hands, feet and ears as we are endowed with. One mind was enough as it was usually confused enough for six. However, outwardly one remained calm, cool and collected. Many cuts were sutured, wounds bandaged and needles given. It was a good experience and a great place to work. The experience in Diet Kitchen was short but interesting, and the more we learned about minerals, vitamins and calories, the hungrier we got. Not all of the time did we spend studying and working. Remember those bike rides ! An excellent way of relieving frustrations. Did I mention frustrations? They were alleviated in other ways too. Who has not at one time or other told a close friend about her trials and tribulations, just to get relief from knowing that another shared and knew. Many a late night was a result of those discussions - and not always were those dis¬ cussions troubles. I can well remember some late nights spent discussing an engage¬ ment. The lucky one couldn ' t sleep so why should the rest of us. At times when visitors were unwelcome, signs came up like, i am a depressed area , Do not disturb and Many may enter but few may not . Remember our Black Band party celebrated at the Shanghai with all the C hinese food we could eat? There were Christmas parties, hootenannies, wiener roasts and also a lot of bread, peanut butter, honey and jam. Our receptionists must sometimes have wondered where it all went. We say thank you to all who made our residence a home away from home. To Dr. McMillan and Mrs. Dojack belong much of the credit for our good health. We were supplied with salt water and corn syrup - a cure for most of our ills ! Thanks to both of them. We render our due thanks to Colonel Everett, Miss Seeman and those Instructors who helped us to become what we are today - Registered Nurses. We deeply appreciated those people who frequently acted as chauffeurs. Friends, sisters, brothers and boyfriends. They encouraged us also during our three years and often gave good advice as they were detached from our environment. How can we express our thanks to those who meant most to us these three years - Mom and Dad . They listened to us complain; encouraged us in our disappointments, and comforted us when our endeavours failed; rejoiced with us in our successes; pro¬ vided us with our daily needs, and prayed for us in times when strength was sorely needed. For all this and more we, as members of Class ' 69 thank our parents. May we live and work so that they will ever be proud of our achievements. A few words to the Class of ' 69. Firstly, I feel honoured to be chosen as Valedic¬ torian. Thank you! Secondly, many friendships have been formed which I believe will not be quickly forgotten. Let ' s try and keep in touch. Some of our number are not able to be with us tonight - To you, we will just say we have not forgotten you . I wish you all the best of success in the future and into the future can each one of us take this little prayer for everyday living: Great Spirit, grant that I may not criticize my neighbour until I have walked a mile in his moccasins ! Rose Lynn Bartel