Thanksgiving Hero | Superexhausted

A few weeks ago I wrote about LaBrea campaign for ThanksgivingHeros. I wanted to share about my Thanksgiving Hero with you Nurse Deb. 10 years ago, when I was in the hospital for over a month I met Nurse Deb . I was put in the hospital aka “pregnancy jail” after my doctors determined that I was unable to control my blood pressure on my own = hospital bed rest. I was taken for a weekend, which turned into a 35 days prior to giving birth to my daughter.

This time was hard since we were 2+ hour drive from our closest family. I had very few visitors in the hospital besides my husband and 4 year old son who came a few times a week after work. Needless to say I am social person and there is only so much Judging Amy reruns you can watch on a 13 channel hospital TV system. It was a very lonely time looking at those 4 beige walls.

In enters Nurse Deb, yes I remember her name (because it is the same as my sisters) and she was the most joy filled person I met during my stay. Nurse Deb has a very happy chill vibe – a cross between Phoebe from Friends and Joy from Disney’s “insideout”. This personality is not the norm if you spent any long-term stay in a hospital adult floor, all the “perky” people work on the pediatric floor. Since, I was alone Deb would spend time talking asking about what I was knitting, about my son, or just life stuff, she took a real interest. It was the human connection I was so much in need of I remember being grateful for her visits. She made the poking at prodding more palatable.

I basically sat around as a human incubator for months, every time Deb came to check on me she was patient and not rushed. After my daughter was born, I bumped into Deb in the hospital halls. My daughter was in the NICU for 2 months, Deb again taking an interest asking a ton of questions. I remember Deb saying was very happy to see me alive after the difficult delivery. After just giving birth to a 2.8lb baby and feeling like a failure for not making term-mom guilt. She was the 1st person who made me realize what a gift it was to be alive and everything was going to be OK.

Flash forward 8 years. I am sitting in my moms group meeting and this bubbly mom of 4, nurse walks in. Her husband Rick, is a police officer. The more I talk to her I realize this smiling engaging women is my warden and savior from the pregnancy jail. Over the last few years, I have grown to know her family Deb’s husband and 4 active boys. They don’t always have an easy road with both of them being in public service but they are very happy. Deb works extra during the year and doubles up so she can be with the boys. During the summer Deb and her family spend time exploring the US and bonding. Compassion, Hope, and Love is at the core of Deb’s Family.

When I asked Debbie about her holidays, she told me it has been years since her family has spend a Thanksgiving together. This year she working the day shift on Thanksgiving. I would love for Deb and Rick to have a special memory thanking them for their service. In my experience, Deb did not have to provide a warm smile and sit with me in the hospital but she did because she is true hero.

Do you have someone you would like to Nominate to be a Thanksgiving Hero? La Brea Bakery is looking for 5 people who serve on Thanksgiving? It can be Hospital workers, Police, Fireman, Food Service workers, hotel employees, transit worker, or any service providers who works to make the day for everyone else safe and comfortable. La Brea Bakery will deliver fully catered meals to 5 finalists across the nation on Thanksgiving. Submissions close Nov 15th 2015. Sounds like a great opportunity to share with your Thanksgiving Hero. Do you know someone? To learn more read further, check out here, and watch the video.

La Brea Bakery is the leading artisan bread in the United States, and is sold in 7,000-7,500 accounts (retail outlets and chains) nationwide. Learn more about La Brea Bakery.

How to enter your Thanksgiving Hero?

CONTEST ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS: To submit an entry click the “Thanksgiving Heroes” tab to create your form submission by including: your first and last name; zip code; email address; an essay of 100 words or less telling about your family member that you will be unable to share Thanksgiving dinner with and submit at least one photograph showing both you and your family member that you will be unable to share Thanksgiving dinner with. Submissions must be received by November 15th 2015. Finalists will be announced November 17th 2015, after which the public will have a chance to vote for their favorites through November 20th 2015.