Kristen Mauk

And the Oscar Goes to…
Watching the Oscars can be quite entertaining. Imagine the vision, creativity, and artistry that it takes for scores of people to come together to make a film that captivates the country by bringing a story to life! The coveted gold statue represents the pinnacle of one’s profession, a universally recognizable prize that causes a seasoned actor to forget his acceptance speech or lose her gracefulness while tripping over a ridiculously expensive gown. It made me wonder: What if there were Oscars awarded to the people who influenced healthcare? Here are some suggestions for the most deserving:

Best Picture: an award for radiologists viewing the film of a cancer-free survivor

Actor/Actress in a Leading Role: the oncologists who don’t let their patients see them cry after having to give a terminal diagnosis

Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role: the nurse who provides comfort to the parents of a dying child

Best Adapted Screenplay: the rehabilitation team members who help survivors find new life again after stroke

Cinematography: for persons who capture the inspiring moments of the Special Olympics
Costume design: the prosthetists, orthotists, and biomechanical engineers who create both function and beauty to clothe persons needing artificial limbs

Directing: the heads of national organizations that lead the way in research and education in a specialty area

Best Makeup: the funeral home directors who help make our loved ones look their best for the final goodbye

Best Visual Effects: the burn specialists and plastic surgeons who reconstruct the facial features of a firefighter or war veteran after severe burns

Best Sound Mixing: the audiologists and manufacturers of hearing devices that help us to listen and attend to the sounds around us

Best Film Editing: the skilled surgeons who remove the bad parts and recreate our inward parts so that our life picture is the best it can be
Best Original Song: the one sung by the double lung transplant survivors, like Charity Tillman-Dick, and made possible by the lung transplant team

I wish that we gave such awards to the people who make a real difference in the lives of so many. There are hundreds of unsung heroes of healthcare who influence our world but go unnoticed. When you come across one, won’t you tell them how much they are valued and appreciated? They may never win an Oscar, but without them we couldn’t shine.

My daughter is expecting a baby, my second biological grandchild, on Christmas Day this year (She came early). I say second because the first one is in heaven, lost to a miscarriage in the early weeks, so we never got to see him or her. But this new little one on the way is a girl, and she should make her big debut in December.

With the wonders of modern ultrasound, I have already seen pictures of my 4 ½ month gestational granddaughter. She has all her fingers and toes, has been screened for a variety of genetic disorders in utero, and seems to be perfectly healthy and active. My, how far we have come since I had my own children when we waited to be surprised at even the gender of the baby.

So many friends have told me that I will love being a Grandmother. I know they are right because my heart is already longing to see her. I’ve talked to her through Rachel’s tummy so she might recognize my voice once she’s “on the outside”, and have already tried to persuade her that I will be her favorite Nana, of course. Before we knew she was Amelia and not Luke, I bought color-neutral baby clothes and toys with an animal theme like ducks or monkeys. Now I can indulge myself in every store, browsing the pink and frilly, the cute and cuddly, the prim and prissy, choosing kittens and crowns instead of puppies and trains.

Rachel asked how I felt about being a Grandma, and I’m not quite sure. I am excited (for me), scared (about the pregnancy and delivery for mom, Rachel), and nervous (hoping everything will go smoothly) all at the same time. One of the first notions that came to mind was when I told my Dad (was it really 30 years ago?) that I was expecting Rachel and asked him how he felt about being a Grandpa. He replied, “Well, I feel great about being a Grandpa, but I don’t know how I feel about sleeping with a Grandma!” I often wonder how long he had been waiting to use that line!

Amelia will be born into an interesting family. She will have two older half-siblings and six aunts and uncles. Her Mom is a fine veterinarian and her Dad is a professional cowboy, and she will be raised on the Western Slopes of beautiful Colorado in the San Juan Mountains. Surely she will be a terrific horse rider and probably be the Rodeo Queen one day like her older sister. Maybe she will be a singer and dancer like her mother or learn to team rope steer with her father. Amelia will be a lovely looking child with such striking parents as she has. Her in-utero personality is feisty and active. Yes, I love her already.

Amelia, maybe someday you will read this and know that I thought of you constantly before you were born. You make me remember what it was like when I was pregnant with your Mom and how I cherished her through all her life and sent so many prayers up to heaven for her that you couldn’t possibly count them all. Your Mom’s life is an amazing story and yours will be too. I can’t wait to meet you, Amelia. You are the promise that life will continue beyond your Grandma’s old age and that something precious will remain on this earth even when I am gone. Grow big and strong until it’s time to meet the world. You will be the best Christmas present ever.