Jennifer Stone, during her formative years, indulged in jests as the confidante of adolescent enchantress Alex (enacted by Selena Gomez) in Disney's triumphant series, Wizards of Waverly Place.
At present, however, the 31-year-old has transitioned from jesting to administering intravenous treatments, serving as an urgent care unit attendant at a medical facility in the vicinity of Los Angeles.
Following her tenure at Disney, Stone divulges that she was pursuing higher education and grappling with vocational decisions. She was 20 years old when she received the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.
"I contemplated, 'Alright, let me veer from specializing in psychology to delving into a field that would afford me a deeper comprehension of my own physiology and enable me to extend assistance to others,'" she confides
Stone articulates, "I aspired to embody a figure who could say, 'Behold, I have traversed the path you tread, and there is solace ahead,'" she confides. "The most arduous chapter in a narrative of diagnosis is the realm of uncertainty concerning one's physiological state, the ambiguity surrounding its treatment. I perceive that to be the most formidable aspect."
Stone attained her nursing credentials in March 2020 — precisely at the onset of the pandemic.
"As a fledgling nurse, I encountered a steep learning curve, particularly commencing my career in the emergency department," she discloses. "It was akin to a trial by ordeal, as it heightened an already intense environment."
With Nurses’ Appreciation Week on the horizon, Stone shares her strategies for managing her diabetes during work hours, her contentment with her current vocation, and her approach towards encountering admirers who find themselves in her care.
What precipitated your diabetes diagnosis?
"I underwent a significant weight gain within an implausibly brief timeframe," she recounts. "Approximately 60 pounds accrued over a span of two to three months. This had a profound impact on my joints, leaving me perpetually fatigued. Mundane activities such as refueling my vehicle or partaking of a meal would render me incapacitated for the entire day. Thus, I recognized the gravity of my condition, prompting me to seek medical counsel."
"Yet, the prevailing tone of discussions surrounding my diagnosis was one of condolence," Stone reflects. "Expressions of sympathy abounded. Nonetheless, my mother and I harbored a resolute demeanor, acknowledging the inevitability of life's unpredictability. One learns to navigate adversity as it arises."
"I underwent an experience during a shift where a 20-year-old had passed away," Stone recounts solemnly. "She had to bid farewell to her loved ones via an iPad due to visitor restrictions. Stranded in Los Angeles without familial support, her departure left a profound impact. Our morgue was inundated, necessitating the use of refrigerated crates to accommodate the deceased. I felt inundated by a tide of sorrow and mortality, and I succumbed to an overwhelming sense of despair."
"I encountered numerous instances akin to that," Stone continues. "Initially, I reproached myself for my emotional breakdowns. However, I've come to realize the importance of allowing oneself the space to process such sentiments. It was unquestionably a moment fraught with uncertainty, prompting me to question my resilience. Yet, much like grappling with type 1 diabetes, one encounters challenges and moments of doubt. Nonetheless, resilience prevails."
Have you ever been recognized while on duty in the ER?
"I had harbored the belief that I would remain unrecognized, cloaked in full Personal Protective Equipment," Stone reflects. "However, it appears that my countenance is rather distinctive. I recall entering the room of a COVID patient, fully clad in protective gear. Despite my efforts to conceal my identity, my voice betrayed me. Witnessing a radiant smile spread across the patient's face amidst her distress filled me with profound gratitude. It was a fleeting moment of solace amid turmoil."
Is there a downside to being easily recognizable?
"I encountered a situation where a patient became irate because I declined her request for a TikTok video," Stone recounts. "Engaging in such activities is inappropriate in a professional setting, especially amidst attending to other patients. While I offered to capture a quick photograph, a full-fledged TikTok dance was beyond the realm of appropriateness. Establishing boundaries is imperative, even within the confines of my workplace."
The Quran - Chapter Muhammad : 33 - 35
O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not let your deeds be in vain.
Surely those who disbelieve, hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah, and then die as disbelievers; Allah will never forgive them.
So do not falter or cry for peace, for you will have the upper hand and Allah is with you. And He will never let your deeds go to waste.
It is mentioned in a tradition that, during the period of the Prophet Muhammad, certain Muslims opined that if they professed, ‘la ilaha illallah’ (there is nobody worth worshipping except God), they would come to no harm by any sin.
In that connection, this verse 33 was revealed. In this light the verse means that a man should combine obedience with Faith.
He should carry out not only the harmless commandments but also those commandments for which he has to crush his self and jeopardize his interests.
If he does not do so, his earlier deeds will be of no avail. The position of weak Muslims is that they will support the Truth on the condition that they should not have to incur the displeasure of the great men of their day.
When they see that supporting the Truth is becoming a cause of displeasure to them, they tilt towards them even if these great men are rejecters of the Truth or stubbornly resistant to it.
Those who reject the Truth or set themselves up as its opponents can never receive the grace of God.
Then how can those who side with such rejecters of Truth meet with any other fate? In Islam there is war as well as peace.
But that war is not Islamic which is fought under provocation. In Islam only defensive war is permitted.
Such a war should not be the consequence of an emotional reaction, but one which results from a proper decision, and is defensive by nature.
