WORKING FOR MY BABIES

Valley Medical Center hospital. A hospital in Fresno, California that is closed.  It sits on the corner of Cedar and KingsCanyon.  Empty lots surround the property.  I remember when I could not find a parking as I arrived to work every morning at 7:00 a.m.  I began my career working for Fresno County in 1978.  My first job was working on the sixth floor.  The Labor n Delivery and Post Partum part of the hospital.  It was full of type "A" personalities.  Doctors, nurses, supervisors, lab techs, x-ray techs, social workers, etc.  I was right smack in the middle of the scene.  Being yelled at was part of my job description.  Nurses yelling out to me, "Call Dr. Lacroix STAT!!!!!


All rooms were full so the nurses had patients in the hallways.  The younger patients were screaming in pain and I was on the phone paging a doctor.  Numerous forms had to be signed by the patients and I had to stand next to a screaming woman and wait until she stopped for a few seconds to have her sign on the dotted lines. 


The supervisors were very strict and would not allow staff to take more than one break per day.  When I called in sick one winter morning, my supervisor was upset with me for staying home with my sick little girl (Jeannette).  She asked me if there was anyone else to take care of her.  I told her I would call her father to see if he could come over and take care of her.  I did do just that and he said to me that was a mother's job to stay home with sick child and then he hung up.  In all the years that I worked, he never ever came through for me and lend a helping hand with the children. 


Jeannette needed me then and I made sure to be there for her even if it meant being written up by my supervisor.  I had my priorities straight. 


When I pass by this ghost of a hospital I get goose bumps just remembering all the crap that went on during those years of 1978 to 1996.  50% of the people that worked there had compassion and heart and the other 50% were mean as hell.  They gave me plenty of reason to hate driving into work.  Oh, and when I couldn't find parking I drove home.  LOL.  home to my babies.