Maine Journal - May 2021

May, June, July 2021 ANA Maine Journal Page 11
Nursing History in Poetry
This poem was found among prose and poetry that
was saved by Maine nurses in a collection of history
articles
Fulfillment
As seen from a hospital window.
City lights, you fascinate me.
Always blinking, through the night.
As my lonely watch I’m keeping.
There is comfort in your light.
Other lights within my memory
Return scenes from out the past,
Of patients, nurses, doctors
Who built values that could last.
One finds within these walls
A courage, and a dedication, too,
That all mankind manifest,
New life, be they Gentile or a Jew.
Here one needs an understanding
Of a very special kind.
One’s own wisdom becomes greater
From dependence on God’s mind.
Tolerance and understanding
Have been born of patience tried.
Time enough to strengthen it,
Bridging gulfs that seem too wide.
For lights of cities or memories
From whatever source it came.
To repay in fullest measure
Means fulfillment in life’s game.
Althea Poland Woodward
Class of 1936
Maine General Hospital School of Nursing
Jean Caron, a Mercy Hospital School of Nursing
alumna, found the poem, "The Gift", by Darcy L.
Record Landry, class of 1968, among the documents
she saved from when she was working and teaching
at Mercy Hospital, in Portland. For the occasion of the
60th anniversary of her class of 1953, at their 60th
reunion, she created this memento, a printed card
including the poem, to give to alumna and attendees.
This Memento and poem are printed with her
permission.
Four Maine health care workers...continued from page 9
locations. She is also putting that experience to use
for developing COVID-19 vaccination sites. Cathy also
serves as the Chair of the Cumberland District Public
Health Council where she is integral in fighting inequity
to create equal access to health care across the county
and state.
Lisa Ireland, Registered Nurse at RiverRidge
Center: Lisa is a registered nurse at RiverRidge Center
where she has been on the frontlines throughout
the pandemic. She often works every day of the
week, across multiple shifts, performing hundreds of
COVID-19 tests on other frontline staff and patients.
Lisa also serves as the infection prevention and control
leader for RiverRidge.
Patrick Keaney, Pulmonary Physician at Mid Coast
Hospital: Patrick is a pulmonary physician at Mid Coast
Hospital where he has been key to the organization’s
COVID-19 preparation and response efforts. As the
pandemic took hold, Dr. Keaney took on the dual role
of caring for all COVID-19-positive patients at Mid
Coast Hospital during the first several weeks of the
pandemic while also serving tirelessly as one of the
hospital’s sources of information about the disease.
For six straight weeks without a break, he arrived
each morning to care for ill patients, share the latest
information on treatment options, and offer words of
encouragement to those around him.
Maine Governor Janet Mills recognized the health
care workers for their dedication to leading public
health and patient care during the COVID19 pandemic.
“I am grateful to the Kraft family for providing this
special gift to our frontline COVID health care workers
as a measure of our enduring gratitude,” said Mills...
“I ask all Maine people to join me in thanking all of
our health care workers who have heeded the call of
duty and worked long hours, days, and weeks, often
at great sacrifice to themselves and their families, to
protect Maine people during this extraordinary crisis.
The mission of this trip is two-fold: to recognize and
thank a representative group of the countless health
care superheroes in New England and to celebrate and
spread the important message of getting vaccinated.