Monica Means
October 2025
Monica
Means
,
RN
ICU
Aurora Medical Center - Oshkosh
Oshkosh
,
WI
United States
It was a little over one week ago when I was ambulanced over to the Aurora Hospital in Oshkosh from Aurora Fond du Lac. A viral something-or-another had triggered a COPD episode and landed me in the ICU. The prior 48 hours had left me in really tough shape, but my condition had improved enough that I was being moved from the ICU to a standard room.
Although worn out and still a bit foggy, I remember the room being filled with my loved ones: my wife, kids, grandkids, and sons-in-law. They, too, were worn out after standing by me for the past few days. There happened to be a nurse in the room by the name of Monica M. I vaguely remember her talking to me about my need to quit smoking. Yada yada. Having smoked for the past 60 years, I had heard it all before, and at nearly 75 years old, I knew that wasn’t going to change simply because some nurse was fulfilling her job duties by lecturing me on the hazards of smoking.
As my family looked on, I knew they were hoping her words would have an impact. When she finished speaking, I nodded and, in a cynical tone, told her I received the message and that it was the end of the story.
Well, not quite.
Monica looked over at my family and then turned back to me. With steely resolve, she said she had been watching my family and that not many folks have the love and support she witnessed from them. After another cynical chirp from me, it was gloves off. She told me this wasn’t all about me. She said my smoking addiction was impacting my entire family, and I had put them through enough. She said it was time.
I don’t know why, but… boom. As she looked me in the eye one more time, I knew. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew.
I quietly turned to my family and told them it was over. I was ready to surrender. I told them I would never again smoke a cigarette. Wiping a tear, I turned to Monica and, as we shook hands, I knew something had just happened, something I would have deemed impossible only 30 minutes earlier.
I am now on my 9th day of being smoke-free. This beats my old record by 9 days.
There is a saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will arrive.” On that special day, my teacher arrived.
Monica, my family, and I will always be grateful for what you did that day. You changed my life.
Although worn out and still a bit foggy, I remember the room being filled with my loved ones: my wife, kids, grandkids, and sons-in-law. They, too, were worn out after standing by me for the past few days. There happened to be a nurse in the room by the name of Monica M. I vaguely remember her talking to me about my need to quit smoking. Yada yada. Having smoked for the past 60 years, I had heard it all before, and at nearly 75 years old, I knew that wasn’t going to change simply because some nurse was fulfilling her job duties by lecturing me on the hazards of smoking.
As my family looked on, I knew they were hoping her words would have an impact. When she finished speaking, I nodded and, in a cynical tone, told her I received the message and that it was the end of the story.
Well, not quite.
Monica looked over at my family and then turned back to me. With steely resolve, she said she had been watching my family and that not many folks have the love and support she witnessed from them. After another cynical chirp from me, it was gloves off. She told me this wasn’t all about me. She said my smoking addiction was impacting my entire family, and I had put them through enough. She said it was time.
I don’t know why, but… boom. As she looked me in the eye one more time, I knew. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew.
I quietly turned to my family and told them it was over. I was ready to surrender. I told them I would never again smoke a cigarette. Wiping a tear, I turned to Monica and, as we shook hands, I knew something had just happened, something I would have deemed impossible only 30 minutes earlier.
I am now on my 9th day of being smoke-free. This beats my old record by 9 days.
There is a saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher will arrive.” On that special day, my teacher arrived.
Monica, my family, and I will always be grateful for what you did that day. You changed my life.