By: Marvin Burney
Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week has a double meaning at my house.When I first met Marsha Hough she was a reporter for The Bladen Journal with dreams of moving on to The New York Times. Less than a year later, we were married and had purchased a home in Clarkton.
That is when a great writer decided to become a wonderful teacher. In 1995, I found out my kidneys had failed,and that is when Marsha Hough Burney became a nurse. Although she did not take nursing classes while in college, she took a crash course on Patient Care by asking questions of doctors and members of my dialysis team. Marsha researched on the internet to find better and more innovative ways to care for me, and in doing so, we were the first couple to be trained in Home Hemodialysis in the eastern part of North Carolina.
For 20 years, Marsha has been by my side through everything (two kidney transplants — the first one she donated to me — along with several hospital stays and over 2,400 dialysis treatments …and counting). Home Dialysis has made me feel so much better and my energy level is much higher. I have my treatments at home, and without Marsha being my home nurse, I would not bearable to do home treatments.
As a teacher, Marsha cares not only about students getting a education but about the students as people, too. Marsha cares about their life after school. She worries about kids who don’t have a stable home life and if her students will have food when they get home or where their home may be on any given day. She wonders if they’re cold on winter nights and if they are sleeping on the floor or in a bed. I have been with Marsha many times when she has carried food, blankets, and heaters to students’ homes. Marsha also makes sure kids with great homes and caring parents have all the information and guidance they need to get a strong and better education.
So at my house, I have both a Great Teacher and A Wonderful Nurse all in one. SHE IS AMAZING!!
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