Meet Sandra Juergens… she’s my mom. You’ll often find Sandra at our bar with her honey Frank. She’s usually in deep conversation with whoever sits next to her. Mom has the gift for gab. She has a big heart to match so can find a common ground with just about any character who she meets.
My mom was born in Georgia in 19 (mind your own business), the baby of 3 siblings. She went to Decatur High School and graduated from Georgia Baptist Nursing School. She was a practicing RN for over 50 years. My mother decided she wanted to be a nurse when as a young girl, she watched her grandmother dying in the hospital and the nurse was rough with her. My mom thought to herself that even if she wasn’t the smartest nurse, she could and would be the kindest nurse. Kind is the number one word I would use to describe my mom, but I’ll get back to that, because she was the smartest nurse too. She was a lead nurse at school and docs chose her for important surgeries over all the other students. She was an OB nurse working at St Mary’s in Livonia until she missed me taking my first steps. Sandra moved into Middlebelt Pediatrics office where I watched her again be the favorite nurse of all the Docs. Georgia was her nickname and the Docs counted on her to educate the new mamas and soothe their exhausted and worried hearts. As kids we would run into her patients ALL the time and they would always stop her, say hi and thank her for being such a smart and well-versed nurse. Years later while working in Plymouth at Trinity Health IHA she became a Triage Nurse. Sandra would answer the phones and decide whether you needed to see a doctor immediately, could it wait for another day, or did you need to go to emergency. Once a young boy fell from 3 feet of scaffolding, and they thought he only broke his arm. When he returned home from the hospital, he didn’t feel good and was vomiting. His mother called their regular doctor and my mom happened to be answering the phones that afternoon. The mom was trying to make an appointment for the next day thinking her boy had a bug. My mom convinced her to take her child to the ER. The young mom was hesitant, wanted to wait for her husband… my mom said, “If that were my grandchild I would already be in the car”. Well, it turned out the boy had to be air lifted to UofM from the urgent care with a traumatic brain injury. Her advice saved his life. Let me tell you, I’ve never seen a more gorgeous flower arrangement! I’ve heard these stories from my mom my whole life. But beyond having great instincts and being intelligent my mom is truly the kindest person. Widowed by the age of 36 she had her hands full with three girls. She did her best to make sure our lives were normal, that we were happy and well adjusted. That we had every opportunity she could give us. Growing up, she always welcomed our friends around. She seemed to instinctively know who may have been having trouble at home. She always had a place at the table for my straggler buddies. Her southern food satisfied my friend’s munchies and soothed their souls. Whomever we “loved” she loved too. No matter if he had a mohawk or smudged eyeliner or no job, she gave them a chance. She’s non-judgmental that way. She would find the good in them. She figured if we liked them that was good enough for her. Luckily, she also taught us to be smart, fiercely independent and to have work ethic… so we eventually found the right guy. She’s always taught us to be kind, to look out for the weak or hurt and to be honest and fair. She loves her three grandchildren and takes pride in every accomplishment they make. From babysitting, baseball and soccer games, clapping from the audience, she’s always been their cheerleader. And I can’t forget how she spoils her grand-dog… she makes sure I know she loves my Brisket. She always makes sure everyone feels the love. If you see any good in me, I got it from Sandra. I love you mom, happy Mother’s Day!
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