The Relentless School Nurse: A Woman’s Vote

This morning, I was delighted to read this moving message from my dear friend and colleague, Donna Gaffney:

Honor in,

 

Like you, Michelle Obama’s speech in Kalamazoo really moved me. I began To think about the women in my life who came before me, personally and professionally, paved the way for us today. I also thought about my daughter and granddaughters, I know you did too!  I pulled out photos of my grandmothers, immigrants, and my granddaughters who went to the ballot box with their moms. 

 

Then I thought about our nursing ancestors, specifically Lavinia Dock, a suffragist, and author of this amazing quote:

 

“The old stiff minds must give way. The old selfish minds must go. Obstructive reactionaries must move on. The young are at the gates!”

So, I wrote this essay to encourage other women— nurses to respond to us with their own stories and photos. 

Heed the call to action this election season! Join Donna Gaffney in a powerful tribute to the trailblazing women who fought tirelessly for our rights. As we step into the voting booth, let’s carry the spirit of those courageous souls who came before us, especially the fearless women in nursing and beyond.

As you cast your ballot, envision the faces of the women who have touched your life – your grandmother’s wisdom, your mentor’s guidance, your daughter’s hope. Your vote is a bridge connecting their dreams to future realities. I know my vote was cast for my precious granddaughter, Nora’s future.

Now is the time to share your story, to inspire others with the legacy of strength and determination passed down through generations. Let your words and images spark a movement, encouraging fellow nurses and women everywhere to join this vital chorus of democracy

Together, we stand on the shoulders of giants. Let’s honor their sacrifices by making our voices resound at the polls. This is more than a vote – it’s a declaration that the torch of progress burns brightly in our hands. The future is calling. Will you answer?

Here is Donna’s message:

With pen in hand, I fill out my ballot, yet I am not alone. The strength of women who came before me, who fought tirelessly to give me a voice, surrounds me. My vote honors my grandmother Anna, who courageously left post-World War I Germany for America in 1922, and my husband’s grandmother Mary, who arrived in Boston from Ireland to start her new life. I wear my mother Madelon’s wedding ring every day, and today, its presence grounds me. She passed away in 2007 during the Obama campaign. She told me before she died that Barack would have her vote.

Share your responses by emailing relentlessschoolnurse@gmail.com, or leave a comment on this post and I will be sure to compile them for a future blog. 

Here is a powerful song suggested by Donna to begin a women’s vote playlist!

What else should we add?