Hearts warmed by Soup

The Chapel of Mercy was filled with laughter, and some tears, as author LeAnn Thieman addressed a crowd of more than 150 nurses, students and community members.

The event, which took place March 12, featured Thieman presenting stories from her life as a nurse, as well as excerpts from “Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul: Second Dose,” which she co-authored.

“As I travel across this continent, I am concerned that we (nurses) take care of everyone but ourselves,” said Thieman. Concern for nurses’ health and well-being was a theme that echoed through out her speech.

The trip to Iowa also served as a homecoming of types for Thieman who is originally from the town of Brandon, located just north of Cedar Rapids.

The talk, which lasted over an hour, was filled with anecdotes and admonishments. Thieman spoke extensively on her experiences as a nurse participating in “Operation Baby Lift.” In April of 1975, Thieman and other volunteers flew to Saigon, Vietnam on a mission to airlift war orphans out of the country in hopes of providing them better lives elsewhere.

The room fell silent as Thieman told of the last few hours in the war zone. Because of sabotage, the first plane full of children and volunteers exploded on take off. As Thieman spoke to the riveted audience, the sound of a helicopter could be heard flying over downtown Cedar Rapids.

“I’m no hero,” Thieman said. “I was just a nurse caught up in something way over my head.”

Through it all, Thieman said the greatest thing to come out of the experience was her son, a Vietnam orphan Thieman adopted and brought back to the U.S.

For the rest of the evening, Thieman encouraged the crowd to take time for themselves, even leading the audience in an exercise.

“Ask yourself what’s the priority in your life, then live it,” Thieman addressed the nurses specifically, and then lead them in the refrain: “Today I will also care for me and truly live my priority.”

The night concluded with stories from the book, telling tales of nurses in extraordinary circumstances, and the life and death decisions that come with a nurse’s chosen careers.

“Nurses are the real angels of Mercy,” Thieman said. “That’s why we dedicated these books to you.”