The young lady lying in the hospital bed was still a teenager, a kid really. It was an accident. Yet was it? She made the choice that led to that accident. It was a dumb choice and yet it was a choice so many others also make and are still able to sleep in their own beds. And get up the next morning and walk to their kitchens to eat breakfast. Why her?
Yet this young lady lay filled with shame. Unable to move her legs. She could barely look at her mother, who sat next to her. The sadness was hard to bear. The prognosis was not good. She was told there was a small chance she may be able to walk again someday. If she worked hard. Despairing, she wondered if it was even worth it.
Then the nurse on the new shift comes in, smiling, chatting, and bubbling over. She doesn’t really walk in; it’s like she floats in on those bubbles. The young girl finds it difficult to believe she is not faking. And yet, there was something about her that exuded love. Authentic. Real.
“How could she love me?” the girl wondered, “She doesn’t even know me.”
The girl began to look forward to the visits from this nurse. The girl found her first smile in a long time. And then her mother began to smile, which pleased the girl. The nurse told her stories, about her life, her family and especially about the saints. The girl loved those. Especially the saints who also suffered consequences from dumb choices.
She remembered her younger years when she went to mass. She wondered why she stopped. Like many young people, she guessed it was when she grew old enough to think she knew better. Her mom didn’t go to church anymore either. When the daughter and mother tell this to the nurse, the nurse almost explodes with joy, if that is even possible. The next day the nurse brings them both a Miraculous Medal. And more stories.
The girl did not know if she would ever walk again, but after a week of this nurse’s many visits, she did something she had not done in a long time. Holding her new Miraculous medal, the girl prayed.
That nurse was Ellen Miller
This story describes one of many accounts that led to her being honored with the Nightingale award. Ellen treats all her patients with the same love and patience. She says that she sees so much suffering. “So many young people end up here after making bad decisions, unable to walk. And we help them.”
“I talk with people. When I visit my patients, I just tell stories and that immediately cheers them up. And seeing them smile cheers me up as well. I am taking care of Jesus every time I take care of the sick. It can be hard, but I am blessed to be surrounded by his passion. Jesus suffers with their suffering. And I love being able to help.”
Contemplative and Evangelizing
Ellen demonstrates this Regnum Christi spiritual practice perfectly.
She describes the time when she felt a call to become a nurse. It was late in life, and she was a single mom working 3 jobs. “It took a long time doing night classes. Working, working, working. That’s all I did.”
Her vocation to Regnum Christi came through her daughter who attended a legion school. Her daughter encouraged Ellen to attend a silent Spiritual Exercises. The spirituality resonated with her. “I kept coming to the reflections until Fr. Peter found out I was studying to be a nurse. He told me I was to do a medical mission. That was that- I kept doing them. I love them.” Joining Regnum Christi was a natural fit.
In her vocation as a nurse, Ellen inspires people to know Jesus by her crazy fearlessness. She says, “I just say what I think all the time and assume, and hope, the Holy Spirit is either speaking through me or will turn what I say to good.”
Filling her cup with Jesus is essential and she shares some of her tips.
- Each morning is dedicated to an hour of morning prayer.
- RC prayers from the prayer book.
- RC Daily meditation.
- Then she sits in the car with Jesus and they talk.
- Hallow app on the way home.
- Continuous 54-day novena.
Joy
Joy is the virtue Ellen loves to practice. “Though I am not sure it is a virtue!”
And I can see joy radiating through our zoom call! Every time I talk with her, I feel loved. My favorite thing about Ellen is she is always so happy to see me and talk with me.
I first met her a few years ago at our annual silent retreat. It was the first Triduum held since the Covid lockdown and Ellen needed this retreat. At the end, she told of the suffering she witnessed daily, and her determination to stay the course. Remembering this, I asked her how she got through that time.
“I watched movies on the saints. Every day. I subscribed to Formed and they have amazing stories that filled me up to help me serve.”
Of course, there are still bad days. I asked how she deals with these days. Ellens says, “I ask myself, ‘what is good about this?’ I already know what is bad, so I don’t need to think about those things. I remind myself to look for the good. I look for my blessings.” Great advice!
Her patients are not the only ones who feel her love. She also has a heart for nursing students and new nurses. She loves them and they love her. She prays for them and does everything she can to share her faith with them.
Between how she treats her patients, new nurses and students, Ellen perfectly weaves her faith into her work life. It is easy to see why she won this prestigious award.
Congratulations Ellen!
