2. Jin’jer Elle Copeland
My smile illuminated the room. “I’m so happy that you’re taking your lil munchkin home today. It’s been a long road, but look how far he’s come,” I said to one of my patients’ parents.
This was one of the love-hate things about my job as an intensive neonatal nurse (NICU).
I always wanted to see the babies that I cared for go home, but I missed them so badly when they did.
The munchkin that was leaving today was born at twenty-three weeks gestation.
He’d spent the last three and a half months here at the hospital.
The doctor’s prognosis on his survival was slim, but he beat the odds like I knew he would.
“Jin’jer, I don’t know how we could every repay you,” Mrs. Culliver said with tear brimmed eyes. “You loved our baby like he was yours. You went above and beyond.”
Her words made me warm and fuzzy inside. “Awe, thank you. The only way you can repay me is to love this lil munchkin. Oh, and send me updates and pictures.”
Mr. Culliver tittered. “You know that we will send you updates. She’s already got you on the christening guest list.”
That excited me. “Oh, I can’t wait to see him in all his christening glory.” With final hugs, the Cullivers were on their way home with their baby boy.
It wouldn’t be the first time that I’d attended a christening for a former patient.
I’d attended birthdays, christenings, and school plays.
I had an entire wall in my apartment dedicated to my babies.
I’d been a registered nurse for six years and a neonatal intensive care nurse for two of those six.
I knew I wanted to be a neonatal nurse since I was a teenager.
I went to the University of Massachusetts to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Once I received my ATT (authorization to test), I registered to take my NCLEX (National Counsil Licensure Examination), and I passed.
That was the beginning journey of me getting to where I was today.
The need for traveling nurses was high, so I jumped on it to get the hell out of Massachusetts.
I traveled a lot, trying to get my foot in the door of a neonatal unit.
It was almost impossible because a lot of times, nurses in those units never left.
Three years ago, I took an assignment in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Six months after I got here, by pure luck of the draw, I was asked to help with a patient or two in the neonatal intensive care unit for a few days.
Three months later, I was still helping in the unit and doing a great job.
When one of the nurses resigned so that she could move out of state to be with her husband, I was offered the job full time to replace her.
What turned into a travel assignment ended with me permanently moving to Charlotte. It was the best decision ever.
“I’m hungry as hell. They’re working me today. Girl, are you ready for lunch?” Hera asked when she stepped up to the nurses’ station.
I giggled at her dramatic ass. Hera worked in the emergency department.
She’d worked at the hospital longer than I had, but we just got acquainted with each other a few months ago because of a patient case we both had that crossed over.
I was a to myself type of person because females could be petty and catty as hell.
Sometimes hospitals were no different than adult ass high schools.
From the beginning, Hera felt like a breath of fresh air, and it hadn’t changed.
“Yeah, girl. I just finished what I was doing.” I told the others behind the desk that I would be back. The Cullivers’ son was my last patient until I received another. When I didn’t have a patient, I assisted with others that needed it. There was always something to do in this unit.
Hera and I walked to a close by restaurant that a lot of the hospital staff frequented. You would think that we’d be tired of the place, but nope. They changed their specials daily, so there was always something new to try.
It took no time for us to be seated. Once we were seated and given a menu, we started to scan it. “Oh, before I forget. We’re going out this weekend,” Hera blurted.
“Wait, who is we?” I asked with a slanted head. After she told me that it would be me, her, and her family, I became leery. “I’m not sure about that. You know I don’t like being around a ton of people. You and Hestia are enough.”
Her sister Hestia was cool as hell too. I knew that they had brothers from conversation, but I’d never met them. I’d been invited to hang out with them before at events that their bike club held, but I always declined. I rode, but I was more of a solo rider, which they thought was dangerous.
Hera sighed. “Jin’jer, your ass can’t just come to work, go home, and ride your bike alone all the time. We’re going to be in a section, so it’s not like we’ll be all in the mix.”
Before I could say anything, the waitress came over to take our orders. After that was done, I put my slitted eyes back on Hera. “First, I don’t always ride alone. You and your sister have ridden with me before. I go to other places, too, I’ll have you know.”
With a tilted head, she responded. “Ma’am, the grocery store and Waffle House at two in the morning is not other places. When’s the last time you went out? It has to be in the last three months.”
I rolled my eyes. The last thing I went to was a Fantasia concert that was like six months ago. “I can’t stand you. What kind of vibe is it going to be?”
There was no reason for me to make up an excuse about why I couldn’t go. I was off this weekend, so I had nothing else to do. Going out might be just what I needed.
“It’s going to be so much fun. I’ll send you all the details because I know you’re gonna want to drive yourself, and that’s fine.
If you think you’re going to drink, take a rideshare there, and we’ll make sure you get home.
” The seriousness of her facial expression was clear.
I understood though. She had dealt with her share of drunk driver accidents in the emergency room.
Our food came shortly after we solidified our weekend plans.
I loved hearing about Hera’s family origin.
When I first found out that she had Greek origin, I didn’t realize how much of it that it was.
Hera and her sister were beautiful women who, at first glance, you’d just assume were black girls.
It was when they pulled an Uno reverse and started speaking fluent Greek.
The amount of double takes they got were comical.
After lunch, I had a few more hours left on my shift.
A new lil munchkin came under my watch. She was born at twenty-six weeks gestation and weighed just over two pounds.
There was a lot that went into taking care of a baby in the NICU on just the skill level.
In my mind, there was so much more than just the skills.
The love, compassion, and support for the parents was just as important.
It was all a full circle that I took honor in being a part of for the health of these little babies.
A FEW DAYS LATER…
I plopped down on my couch as soon as I walked into my apartment.
My tears rolled down my cheeks without my permission.
One of my lil munchkins had a clonic seizure today.
The doctors already told the parents that their daughter would more than likely have muscular dystrophy.
Today, for her to have a seizure was a lot for everyone.
I had never been so ready for a weekend off like I was right now. This recharge was necessary.
After moping for a few more minutes, I got up to take a shower so that I could relax.
When I was offered the full-time job here in Charlotte, the apartment complex that I stayed in allowed me to convert the same apartment over for my lease.
When I traveled as a nurse, the hospital that I would be working at normally supplied the housing accommodations.
That was true for the apartment that I was staying in.
My travel assignment ended on a Friday, and my full-time position began the following Monday.
Instead of the complex telling me to move out, they just converted the lease over into my name.
It was the perfect place to stay because it was walking distance from the hospital.
When I traveled, I never brought my truck or bike with me.
I kept them in a storage unit in Boston, Massachusetts, not too far from my parents’ house.
A month after I started my position, I flew up to Boston, loaded my bike on the back of my truck, then drove my happy ass back to North Carolina.
My mother hated that I rode motorcycles.
My father didn’t care much about anything that I did, as long as it didn’t bring reproach to the precious Copeland name.
Speaking of my mother. I wasn’t out of the shower for twenty minutes when my phone rang.
I gave her a specialized ringtone so that I would never be caught off guard by her call.
To answer or not to answer. If I didn’t, she’d call back until I did, so there was no use not to unless I planned to put my phone on Do Not Disturb tonight. “Hi, Mother.”
“My, all your mother gets is a dry hi? Jin’jer Elle, don’t be rude.
I taught you better than that, contrary to popular belief.
” This was why I didn’t want to answer the phone.
God forbid the child of Evelyn and David Copeland not have proper manners.
All of the etiquette classes and cotilions would have all been for naught.
With my eyes closed, I responded to her expectation. “Hi, Mother. How are you doing?”
“That’s much better.” The fact that one sentence made the difference with her was stupid. “I am doing exceptionally well. Earlier this week, I had lunch with the ladies at the club. They asked about you. Let me tell you…”