Visiting Nurse Angel: With God All / Redemption Gives Hope / Things are possible.

By C. Buettin

IF WE FIND OURSELVES WITH A DESIRE THAT NOTHING IN THIS WORLD CAN SATISFY, THE MOST PROBABLE EXPLANATION IS THAT WE WERE MADE FOR ANOTHER WORLD.

C.S. LEWIS

As a real estate m

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Writing Pioneer
• Release date: Jan 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869103802

Book preview

Visiting

Nurse Angel

WITH GOD ALL/REDEMPTION GIVES HOPE / THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

By

C. Buettin

Copyright © 2023 by C. Buettin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published by Book Writing Pioneer

Cover design by Book Writing Pioneer

ISBN:

Printed in United States

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 1

Julia felt relieved that her day had become abbreviated. She had just finished her last Medicare patient and headed home early for once. Just then, her cell phone rang with the caller ID that announced, Becky Davis calling, her boss and owner of Visiting Nurse Angels Agency.

Becky, with a frantic tone in her voice, Julia, I hate to bother you, but I’m at the end of my exceedingly long rope. I need you to do a quick assessment of a patient on Longboat Key. It’s full-time, six days a week, with Sundays off, of course, for church, and most likely a short-term assignment.

Who is it?

Her name is Stevie Michael-Price of Stevie Price Real Estate Company, and I think you would be perfect for this assignment.

The red flag went up in Julia’s mind, What’s wrong with her, and why do you think I would be perfect? Julia knew there was a big pool of nurses equally qualified as her that her boss could choose from in her agency. 

Ms. Price had a Transient Ischemic Attack, a TIA, and as a result of that, she fell on a sharp object, and it left a significant gash on her right leg, which required thirty stitches. She needs wound care. Ms. Price will also need blood pressure, sugar monitoring and medication supervision. Although there’s no long-term brain damage, as you know, there will be some temporary dementia and speech and balance issues. They did additional tests at the hospital and discovered plaque buildup in her small blood vessels in the brain, which may indicate a possibility of vascular dementia. There are several old micro-bleeds on her CT scan, meaning she’s a candidate for a major stroke as well. She has a follow-up neurology appointment on Monday with Doctor Canteros to get those answers. They also discovered that she has A-fib from an EKG they ran. There’s a cardiology appointment in two weeks with Doctor Fry and Doctor English, her plastic surgeon, who repaired her leg injury to remove the stitches. She will need to see her primary care doctor and get a referral for an Endocrinologist. I will text you the specific dates and times. You will be escorting her to those appointments, that’s again, if she agrees to our help. You can also oversee her speech and physical therapy to make sure she remains compliant.

Compliant? Is she difficult?

Becky had already read the hospital reports and knew most certainly that Stevie Michael-Price, in the future, most likely is not going to be compliant and, according to the report, said her attitude was almost impossible while admitted there for two days. Her POA, Power of Attorney, Mr. Morris, and the hospital’s social worker wanted her to go to a rehabilitation facility, but she wouldn’t hear of it.

I didn’t want to tell you, but you’re probably going to hear rumors anyway, so I thought it would sound better if you heard it coming from me.

Oh boy, now you’re starting to scare me.

You’ll be the fourth nurse that I have sent there, and she has fired them all. She has verbally insulted every single one of them by telling them that they are incompetent and, quote, ‘to get the h--- out of her condominium.

So, I’m next in line for the firing squad? Julia chuckled

Julia, seriously, I will give you a dollar an hour more if you succeed. I do not know if it is from your strong faith, but you have such a calm and peaceful demeanor that if anyone could pull off a contract for her healthcare, it’s you. She just needs to be convinced that it is for her own good.

Okay, Julia sighed, text me her information, and I will turn around and give it my best effort.

Thank you, and by the way, she put down on her intake questionnaire atheist as her religious preference, so please do not even mention the word God.

I will call you after I meet with her and tell you how it went or didn’t.

After Julia ended her call, she turned her car around and started up the elevated John Ringling Causeway bridge, heading to the address Becky had texted her on Longboat Key when the traffic this time stopped her at the top. She then looked around, and even though she was a native of Sarasota, she still found herself awestruck at the beauty of the scenery that she could see in every direction for miles. The sparkling waters of Sarasota Bay hosted many bodies of land. She could see Lido Key, parts of Longboat Key, to the south of Big Pass was Siesta Key, and behind the skyline display of downtown Sarasota with Marina Jack, Bayfront Park, and the Selby Gardens. She always felt blessed that she could call this paradise her home. Just then, the traffic resumed snapping her back to her reality, she refocused on her next assignment. However, she never thought of her work as assignments but more as a labor of love.

Now, as she had done so many times before, she started to talk to God while stopped at the next red light and prayed. God, I need your help again. I know you can help as you have done so many times before through your Holy Spirit. Please convince this woman called Stevie to want to let me help her feel better. I pray that you give me the right words to say to soften her heart, and as always, I thank you in advance. In Jesus’ name, I pray this. Amen.

As Julia drove past Bird Key and around St. Armands Circle towards Longboat Key, she remembered a story in 2015, the year her husband died, in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper about Stevie-Michael Price. The headlines and her story about rags to riches written and consumed all of the first section of the paper. Julia, who had a photographic memory, started to read it from her memory like it was sitting in front of her. She liked the gift of total recall except when it came to the deaths of her brother and then her husband because she could remember every detail of these tragedies, even down to the smells. She now remembered the article when she saw a younger picture of Stevie, which, in Julia’s mind looked attractive, athletic, and standing by a Stevie Michael Real Estate Companies sold sign. The caption under the picture stated Stevie Michael-Price’s first house was sold in 1977. The company was originally called Stevie Michael Real Estate Company but later changed to Stevie Price Real Estate Company in 1980 when she got married. 

The story continued on page two, under a section called Early Life.

Born in 1945 in Sarasota, Florida. Lived on Longboat Key in the days before it became an upscale island. Her mother was a school teacher, and her father was a police officer for the Manatee Police Department. She had no siblings. As a matter of fact, the family tree for males had already ended for the Michael surname with Stevie, the last hope for it to continue. That’s why her parents gave her a male name. A total nuisance, according to her, in elementary and high school, but she felt it made her tough and resilient.

In college, the University of Tampa mistakenly put Stevie in an all-male dorm. They quickly moved her to a female dorm, but it didn’t matter to her because she spent more of her time there anyway. According to her, she always got along better with the male gender, and she felt more comfortable with them. She would even play rough sports with them. They called her a tom girl and treated her like one of the guys. Little did she know this groomed her for her future.

She graduated in 1967, age 22, with two degrees, one in business and one in psychology. She started working at Manatee High School as an economics teacher and also at Manatee County Courts as a juvenile court counselor. She loved her jobs, but financially, she had bigger dreams. So, in 1977, she decided to open a real estate office in St. Armands Circle. She had to borrow six thousand dollars from a friend because the banks at that time would not lend to a single female. She then, received her broker license, hired two real estate agents, and so it all began. 

Her motto then and remains today, the company’s mission statement, Integrity and Respect when buying or selling real estate is paramount to us. She wanted to change the stereotypical notion that realtors just took your money to a totally service driven industry which incorporated new marketing strategies, such as multi-list booklets, incorporating and compiling information so buyers from different states could gain access to preview the beach properties or near beach properties for sale. This could be done at the beginning through beautiful brochures to now in a virtual-3D tour of the properties via the internet.

You could say she became the pioneer who paved the way for the success of Sarasota as one of the top places to live in the USA. People started to flood the area by buying vacation homes and condominiums to escape the harsh winters of the north to the warmth and white sand beaches. Then, they eventually retired to Sarasota permanently. The trickle-down effect not only affected the booming construction industry but snowballed and created new businesses, restaurants, and retailers, and the catalyst for the tourism industry on the Gulf Coast. 

Under the section on page 3: TODAY

She had thirty offices along the Gulf Coast of Florida, from Bradenton to Punta Gorda, with revenue of ninety million annually and sales in the six-billion-dollar range. She had nearly eight hundred professionally trained real estate agents and over three hundred administrative staffers who worked like a fine-tuned piano. 

She implemented and started many divisions that now fall under the company’s umbrella, such as Stevie Price Residential and Commercial Sales, Stevie Price New Home Sales, Stevie Price Commercial Property Management, Stevie Price Resort Management, Stevie Price Relocation, Stevie Price Mortgage Company, Stevie Price Title Company, Stevie Price Asset Management Company, and Stevie Price REO Division (Real estate owned-properties that are owned by the lenders because the properties fail to sell in foreclosure.) She virtually turned Real Estate into a one-stop enterprise that encapsulated the word convenient for both sellers and buyers.

Under the section page 4: SALE OF HER COMPANY

Her ex-husband, Steven Price, who received twenty-five percent of the company in their divorce and remained an integral part of the company’s growth, bought the other seventy-five percent of the company for an undisclosed amount so Stevie could retire.

Consequently, that gave Stevie Michael-Price more time for her passion for children and wanting to improve their quality of life; she had many philanthropic programs that she’s involved with today and is actively financially supporting. They are just to name a few: Big Brothers and Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, All-Star Children’s Foundation, Summer Camp Programs, Safe Children Coalition, Sarasota Fishing Camp, Drama Kids and Florida Studio Theater, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

On the last page of the newspaper, a picture of Stevie Michael-Price in her home office leaning against her executive desk in front of a mahogany wainscot wall covered in accolades, plaques, and awards.

Beneath that, a picture of Stevie-Michael Price on the rooftop of her condominium called Ambiance, where she’s holding a fishing rod while standing in front of her flower and vegetable gardens with a large telescope in the background.

The caption read: Some of Stevie Michael-Price’s hobbies include fishing, gardening, and stargazing, just to name a few.

Chapter 2

Julia finally arrived at the Ambiance and approached the guard station that stood before a twenty-foot ornate wrought iron gate. There, like a statue, a tall, muscular guard in a uniform with a name tag, John, written on it. 

As Julia opened her window, Hello, my name is Julia Gibson. I am from Visiting Nurse Angels Agency. I have come to see Stevie Michael-Price.

Hello and welcome. Let me check the computer list. I will be right back with you.

He returned quickly with a parking pass and a map of the area.

You will go to the first of the twin, twelve-story, and Ambiance condo buildings. Turn right here and follow the signs past the golf and tennis complexes and turn right at the sign that says Building One. Go towards the front of the double doors and find guest parking to the right of those doors. If you have a problem, my number is on the bottom of the parking pass.

Please leave the parking pass visible on your car dash. Once you have gone through the doors, you will see Linda Stout, the concierge, sitting at the desk. She will assist you the rest of the way. Thanks, and have a great day.

Thank you, John, and you as well.

Julia drove, seemingly a very long time, around the most beautiful landscaped property she had ever seen. The golf course was lush green, and a most prestigious clubhouse surrounded by many colorful flower gardens, with immaculate groomed orange clay tennis courts that Julia got a sense of what wealth looked like perfect.

Julia pulled into one of the spots that said visitors, parked, put the pass on her dash, grabbed her nursing bag, and headed through the automatically etched glass doors into a dazzling two-story lobby with marble floors and adorned with a huge crystal chandelier, appointed with Louis XV furniture and accents similar to what she had seen on a documentary, exquisite, elegant, gold gilded, and tasteful. There, sitting behind what appeared to be a Louis XV desk, an attractive blonde with a gorgeous smile that became more radiant as Julia drew nearer. She had on a navy-tailored suit with a baby blue fringe blouse and stood up tall as Julia approached.

Welcome to Ambiance, she said with a sweet southern drawl. My name is Linda Stout. How can I assist you today?

Hello, my name is Julia Gibson from Visiting Nurse Angels Agency. I have an appointment with Stevie Michael-Price.

Linda blushed because she must have known that Ms. Price had already fired three nurses prior to Julia but proceeded to say, I will be escorting you up to the Penthouse because it requires a key. Please follow me this way.

They entered the wood-paneled, red-carpet elevator. Linda inserted a gold key and pressed the P button. On the way up, Linda felt the need to speak. Ms. Price is a really kind-hearted person once you get to know her, but she’s very selective about who she lets in because of her position. It’s like butter on sweet corn. Just don’t let what she says bother you. Let it just roll off like butter, and you will find that…sweet corn, person.

Julia laughed and smiled. Thanks, I like your analogy. That’s very kind of you to say. I will certainly keep that in mind. I like your accent, too. Where are you from, Linda?

Alabama. Thank you, Ma’am, with that, the elevator doors opened.

They both stepped out onto a marble foyer with a large mirror over a long counter table with a large vase of cut flowers that filled the area with a lovely floral scent. Next to that were two red entry doors.

Linda pressed the doorbell and a chime melody sound came from inside. The door opened, and there stood a petite Hispanic woman dressed in a stylish salmon-colored uniform dress with a full white apron.

Hello, Celia. Allow me to introduce Julia Gibson. She is here from the Visiting Nurse Angels Agency and has an appointment to see Ms. Price.

Turning to Julia and pointing to Celia, Ms. Price’s right-hand woman, Celia Perez.

Celia smiled and gestured for Julia to come in. Welcome, Ms. Price is expecting you. She’s in her office. Please follow me.

Thanks, Celia. Tell Ms. Price I said hi and that I hope she feels better soon.

Turning to Julia, A pleasure meeting you, ma’am. I hope to see you again, with that, she turned again and headed back inside the elevator.

Julia took a small gulp to clear the lump in her stomach that she suddenly started to feel. But inside her head, she kept repeating, I can do this. This is just another woman patient, and God’s with me.

She took that leap of faith and stepped inside the condominium, still feeling apprehensive, like stepping into a lion’s den. Suddenly, the lump evaporated and turned to amazement as she tried