…and check out her sleek new site!
Gina LaGuardia is one-of-a-kind in so many ways. Even though I’m a writer, it’s hard to adequately summarize or describe all her incredible skills and gifts, and I am constantly pinching myself about working with someone so talented.
Throughout these six years of working together (we have still yet to meet in person but I feel as though we’ve been friends and co-workers for much longer than our six years!), I have added new skills, taken on new responsibilities, secured new clients through word-of-mouth as a direct result of working for hers, had articles published on sites I only dreamed of being published on (ReadersDigest.com, AARP.org, The Huffington Post, USNews.com), have seen my name and work in print in a fashion magazine available on newsstands in NYC, have seen the Twitter chat I’ve co-moderated hit trending status several times, have interviewed amazing people, and have enjoyed full-time work — before becoming a mom, I often worked 8-10+ hours a day doing writing, editing and social media management — for SIX years and counting.
As I’ve learned by working in this industry, that is a very. long. time.
And in my six years, I’ve had other clients come and go, and other clients who were not nearly as easy or enjoyable to work with — especially not with the same level of professionalism, camaraderie, or rapport — as Gina.
Besides that, I’ve met some of the industry’s best and am proud to work alongside them — supporting each other, sharing each other’s content, providing story leads, quotes, interviewees and more — as part of the Gina LaGuardia Editorial Services (GLES) team.
I am grateful beyond words for all the personal growth and professional opportunities that working with and for Gina has afforded. She’s made my dream of being a writer come true in ways I didn’t think possible, and I am happy to give back in even just a small way by promoting her new site and social media pages/profiles.
- Check out her newly redesigned website.
- Follow her company on LinkedIn.
- Like her company page on Facebook.
- Read my bio on her site.
- Read about my newest social media venture for SeniorsforLiving.com, offering Google Helpouts (aka virtual office hours) on senior care decision-making and advice.
Hello Michelle,
Wonderful article. I have been a Registered nurse for almost 27 years now. A blessing and a privilege. Toward the latter part of my career, I became a hospice RN casemanager with intermittant homecare patients. I became the family’s advocate. When i was privileged to work in hospice as a case manager, I was invited into families that were actively mourning the emminent loss of a loved one. The energy was so very palpable. But after a while came a natural way to work with families and their beloveds. There was an interdependant relationship established. I explained what hospice stood for and answered their questions and came to know them. I invited them to look at the medications that come to the house when one is placed on hospice care. I explained that dying was a process of a slowing and shutting down of our organs. I would explain that dying is a force to be reckoned with and hospice can palliate those symptoms that accompany the dying process. I loved my patients and loved their families.
I went into hospice a year after my own mother’s passing. Both my sister and I were RNs and had worked in medical surgical settings. We made sure we told the hospice nurses that we needed education on this "dying" process and to please NOT assume we knew what to do just because we were nurses. Hospice must be taught. It is an entire different philosophy that most urgent care nurses know little about. During my mother’s long illness, we learned as much as we could, while grieving deeply her eventual death. She was the sunshine in our lives. She left us May 18, 2002. The loss, just beyond words or expression.
But years later things would begin to resonate with me. I knew there were so many people out there that understand very little of what was going on in their health. They did not understand that if you are knowledgeable in your disease process, the benefits are endless. The average individual, if hospitalized, really has little idea of what is going on. It’s upsetting to the patient and family, just like hospice. As a patient, it is hard to ask questions and understand all of what is going on around you in a hospital. Anytime a family member has had a temporary or extended illness, an orthopaedic issue or something chronic and so on, I have gone with them. And have found that with my support they are put at ease. Our health care is so very fragmented today when it comes to COMMUNICATION. Back in my mother’s day, GP,s delivered us and we saw them into our adult live. Care wasn’t delineated to OB and pedicatrics, cardiology, neurology etc., etc. While it’s great to have experts in areas of the human body, the problem remains: they RARELY communicate with one another. I have been an advocate for so, so many folks. People really don’t have a firm grasp on the what, how, and why of things relating to their health.
I started a small Advocacy Group years ago and put everything I had into it but was working full time and was a young mother as well. I advocated whenever I could. I have stories that could fill volumes.
I wrote this rather lengthy post because it is wonderful to see that you agree!!! I know there are advocates that work inside companies Human Resources, etc. etc. this is more HOMEGROWN…. Nurses are considered the most trusted in the medical field and heck if you have a nurse in the family…. keep her informed of what might be going on with your health. You never know…..you might just find that understanding your health makes what you do for it pretty meaningful!!! Kudos to you and your endeavors… May our minds remain open to continue learn and may that grow in to better care and advocacy for our elders and many more.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful story, Meg! What an inspiration you are! The world needs more caring people like you.