Barbie's Magic Hospital

Many of you know my love for Barbies. Even if you met me as an adult, you are aware that as a 28 year old I have Barbies in my house. As a college student, I had them displayed in my hallway. Creepy? A little. I prefer to think of it as quirky and comical...and prepared for little visitors, like my neice! The point is, I have always loved them. And it wasn't just the doll that I loved as a child, it was the elaborate story lines that I could create. Apparently the lack of drama in my own life spurred me on to dreaming up all sorts of soap-opera-esque plot lines at the age of 8. For instance, when we got our dog Taffy, a yappy, toy-poodle who had a taste for all things plastic, she managed to chew a hand or foot off the odd Barbie doll. So, to explain their disfigurement I would give them diagnoses. Usually cancer, which lead to the obvious limb amputation. My 8 year old brain apparently only knew one big disease. In my 7 years of nursing, I have yet to meet someone who has lost a limb due to cancer...but at least I scored some points for creativity!

Not only would my Barbies have a history of critical illness, but they would often develop acute exacerbations of some rare lung disease causing them to be on oxygen in the hospital. I would fashion some string into a small loop that fit around their nose and ears, like the oxygen tubing I now use everyday. (prophetic? maybe. hahaha) Not only that, but I would make ventilator noises to go with it. Now, I loved my Barbie Magic Voyageur, but if Mattel had come up with the idea of Barbie's Magic Hospital...oh man, I would have been in love!!!

So, today, as I was assessing my intubated patient in CCU (coronary care unit...basically an ICU for hearts) with the sound of the ventilator in the room, I couldn't help but smile and think back to my Barbie-playing days, sitting in my room, while Dr. Ken worked tirelessly to save Barbie's life so that they could ride off into the sunset together in their Grey Corvette with pink accents. And it made me think of just how intricately we are created, and how the dreams and little personalities we have as children shape us into who we are now, as adults. It makes me wonder, as I watch my nephews and neice play and imagine, what little parts of their distinct personalities will drive them and direct them to become the people they have the potential to be...