The movie “The Bucket List” told the story of how two terminally-ill patients decided to fulfill some lifelong goals before they died. You don’t have to be ill or even old, though, to have a bucket list. Many of us have dreams and things we’d like to accomplish in our lifetime. We know because we asked many of you, “What did you cross off your bucket list this summer?” Believe me, there was plenty of check-off activity.
Julie Mathew, RN
Nurse clinician, Medical Unit, Emory Johns Creek Hospital
Someone told me that if I went on one medical mission trip, I’d probably do it again. She was right. I just got back from my second medical mission trip to Peru [sponsored by Grace Fellowship Church, in Snellville]. This will probably be on my bucket list every year.
I was part of a team of doctors, dentists and nurses who ran a clinic for six days high in the Andes Mountains. We worked at 13,000 and 10,000 feet, so it’s hard just to breathe. I tried to be in better physical condition this year. We saw about 1,500 people the first year and close to that this summer.
Growing up in the US and having skills, I feel blessed to be able to help others who really need it. That’s one reason why nursing is such a good fit for me. I have a chance to make a difference and I’ve been blessed by the knowing the people in Peru.
Patrycja Mahdavi, RN, BSN, CCRN
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
After living with my in-laws for a year, we finally found our dream home and moved in this June! My husband and I are thrilled to have finally found a home where we can raise our 2 ½ year-old daughter. The home is in the perfect school district, in the perfect location. I can’t begin to tell you how stressful it was looking for a home. So now that we have it and can focus our attention elsewhere, we are taking a week-long vacation to Seaside, Florida. I can’t wait to surprise our daughter, because she loves playing in the sand and the water, and she’ll have both in one swoop. This summer has truly been one of the best summers we’ve had in a long time. There’s something special and magical about having a place of your own to call home. When my daughter calls it ‘home,’ it’s even more special.
Linda Stead, RN, BSN
VP, Nursing Services, CNO, Patient Safety Officer
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
On July 4th, my husband and I hosted a day long Independence Day celebration with almost 50 members of his family and mine from France, California, Utah, Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, Florida and Georgia, ages six months to 90 years. We had a fantastic time sharing our local parade, croquet, badminton, food and local fireworks display and soccer match. My husband does so much for me and my family. It was a joy to give back a little portion of happiness to him!
Janet McCants, RN
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
I marked something off my bucket list that I have been putting off for a long time. That is getting STRONGER. I have two beautiful, active grandchildren who expect me to keep up with them. Since I want to be able to please them, I joined a boot camp. I go and get a strong workout that makes my heart rate go through the roof and I sweat (that usually only happens during CODEs). I am really feeling great already. Camp lasts all summer; then it’s on to basketball, soccer and whatever the kids throw at me.
Crystal Marchant, RN, BSN, MSN
Clinical Educator, Piedmont Henry Hospital
This summer I had the honor to provide medical care to wounded warriors at the David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis, AFB, California which is the Air Force’s largest medical facility on the West coast. I was able to tour Alcatraz and see the Golden Gate Bridge while there. Getting my 12-year-old son certified as a scuba diver through PADI was another check off my bucket list. Now all five us are certified and can enjoy the marine life.
Taylor Hope, RN
Workers Compensation Nurse Specialist, DeKalb Medical
This summer, I have crossed off something from my bucket list that will help me complete an even bigger item! I have started working on a TEFL Certification: Teaching English as a Foreign Language. My dream is to live and work abroad while gaining insight into unique cultures first hand. I can’t wait to start my adventure and learn all I can before coming back into health care with a new perspective.
Landon Padgett, RN, BSN, CCRN
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Earlier this year in February, my husband and I decided it was time to start a family and become dads. So we attended our first adoption orientation with Families First here in Atlanta and started the process. We are doing domestic infant adoption. This means that we will be connected with a birth mom who is pregnant who matches our criteria, and we match hers. We will support one another until the baby is born and ultimately, she will choose us as the adoptive parents of her baby.
Tony and I have been together for four years and thought it was time to get married, even though we cannot legally be married in Georgia. In May, we traveled to Rochester, NY where his sister lives and were married in front of family and friends. We did this not only to show our love for one another, but also for our future baby. Forms are submitted, home study completed, and we are anxiously waiting for a call any day!
Cheryl Iverson
VP Marketing, Communications and Corporate Health
DeKalb Medical Center
I took my two China-born daughters (ages 17 and nine) on a heritage trip to their birth country. We toured the famous China sites that tourists see and then journeyed into their home provinces. We visited the orphanages and met the foster mothers who took care of them the first year of their lives. The girls got to experience China and had a few questions answered. I was able to express my gratitude to those who cared for and loved my daughters before we became a family.
Molly Parks, RN, BSN, CPN
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity of traveling to Uganda with my husband on our first mission trip together to serve at the Hands of Love orphanages. Our team spent 10 days working at the two orphanages located in Kiteezi and Namadhi. We brought medication and eyeglasses to over 1,400 of the most joyful children we have ever met. These beautiful little ones were so welcoming and gracious to us. They were thrilled when we showed them the love and affection they so desperately need.
Our favorite part of the trip was spending time with our 5-year-old sponsor son Julius. When a Hands of Love child is “sponsored” they immediately are given the gifts of food/clothing, education, medical care and more than anything, a family. This little guy now calls us Mama and Daddy. It is one of the most real experiences we have ever had as a couple and the moments spent with our dear Julius are priceless to us. He will always be a part of our lives now and we are so grateful to have met him. So, yes this summer was epic and life-changing in every way. To witness the huge need in Africa gave us a heart for orphans and a passion to see Uganda changed, one child at a time.
Sheryl Durr, RN, MSN, CRRN, CWCN, COCN
Joint Care Coordinator, Joint Solutions Center
DeKalb Medical Center
Earning my Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree from Walden University was at the top of my summer-to-do list. The commencement ceremony at Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland was mind-blowing, from meeting my classmates to meeting one of the most influential people in my life, instructor, Dr. Deb Lewis. I also got to check off meeting another influential person, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, who was the commencement speaker. She showed me that you can be both a powerful and a humble person. Now that I’ve checked the DNP off my bucket list, I look forward to a new beginning of being able to distribute knowledge to nurses at the bedside and engaging patients and families. Transformational leadership is needed in health care today. Words cannot express how I feel in attaining this accomplishment. My vision is to become a life-long learner, while on the quest to delivering exemplary nursing care using the foundation set by nursing greats who have gone before me.
Rhonda Smith, LPN
Inpatient Services, Piedmont Newnan Hospital
It’s been such an exciting summer I don’t know where to begin. In May, my son John graduated from college. In June, my oldest daughter Stephanie got married, and in July, my daughter, Erica, gave birth to a baby boy who happens to be my very first grandchild. I can tell you we were anxiously awaiting his arrival. Now, all three of my children are working on their master’s degrees. I’m about to enter my 23rd year of nursing here at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, and I’m very proud to be able to say that.
Katie Plavcan, LPN
Kaiser Permanente, Alpharetta Medical Center
After years of taking body combat classes as a way to relieve stress and stay fit, I decided to become a certified body combat trainer. I felt that leading classes of my own would help me combat a life-long fear of public speaking—and it was cheaper than therapy. I spent several months in training and completed the instructor class last summer. I now teach a weekly class of my own. Not only has this experience made me more comfortable with speaking in front of groups, but I also burn 500-700 calories a session.
Cynthia Heidepriem, RN
Intensive Care Unit, Piedmont Newnan Hospital
I love the outdoors and I love adventure. This summer, I marked several things off my bucket list. I took a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It was awesome. You could see Alcatraz from the bridge. I also took a helicopter tour over St. Augustine. Add to that, I’ve been skydiving, tubing, kayaking and geocaching. My summer tour of adventures ended with a road trip to Panama City with my friend and coworker, Alexis Boone. We went deep sea fishing and took an airboat ride to see alligators. As you can tell, I try to enjoy my days off!
Trish Rossey, PCT-NICU-SR
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
I graduate from nursing school in May 2015. I am getting married this September! My fiancé was stationed in California with the Air Force and just recently separated from the service after eight-and-a-half-years. We did a cross-country road trip in May to move him back home since he is originally from here. We met in high school. Our road trip was full of adventures and misadventures and lots of fun. This summer has been full of ‘weddinging’ as we like to call it, and I just got back from a bachelorette trip in Charleston.
Elaine Harbin, RN, BSN, CBCN, OCN
Patient Navigator, Oncology Navigation
Piedmont Fayette Hospital
I wanted to go somewhere completely different and exotic. I traveled to Thailand with three other women—none of us had been anywhere in Asia before. The trip was amazing. We experienced beaches, whitewater rafting, riding on elephants, petting tigers (the tiger in the pic is real), lots of exotic and delicious food, and shopping galore. Also we stopped in China to see the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Big check off the bucket list.
Rachel Douglass, RN, BSN
Nurse, neuro-vascular unit, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
I started my nursing career 10 years ago, having earned my associate’s degree while working and caring for my daughter as a single parent. I always wanted to get my BSN, but I was focused on getting my daughter through high school and I’d say ‘next year.’ Last year, I realized I didn’t want to stay stuck in the same position in my career. I started taking BSN classes at Clayton State University and did well, but it took too much time traveling back and forth to class. So, even though I was scared of online programs, I enrolled in one at Grand Canyon University and graduated with my BSN this June.
When I saw the diploma, it was such a relief. I always felt like I was a good nurse, but now I know that you can always learn more. My patients are more complex and I need to keep up with that complexity. I have the same passion I always had for nursing, but my confidence has grown. I’m more active now. I’ve taken on a leadership role in a committee. I know now that I don’t want to limit myself. I want to keep growing as a nurse. I think once you start checking things off your list, you have a hunger to do more.
