A refreshing collection of meditations from someone who has earned the right to share them. David pens some poignant thoughts, reflections, and experiences that are meant to bring awareness to others about moments that cannot be truly understood by others who have no exposure to those moments. It is insightful and I love that he shares through the voices of multiple parties: nurses, patients, and parents of those patients. Be prepared to grab some tissues because you will weep as read about and ponder some truly significant questions and experiences. From one nurse to another, thank you for taking the time to pen these meditations.

I received a complimentary copy, with thanks, from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.

Through vignette-style reflections, David Metzger (a father and pediatric nurse) provides insight into what it’s like to care for devastatingly sick children while trying to raise kids of his own. The often-humorous struggles of his own parenthood offer a balance and a thoughtful lens into his professional life. It’s an important book for parents, medical professionals, and anyone with a heart.

At times devastating. At others, laugh-out-loud funny. This book will tear at your heart strings then help you reload them for the next page.

As the parent of a small child, I had to read this in fits and starts. While I typically prefer to read a book in as few sittings as possible, I found myself slogging emotionally through chapters. Forced to take a break when a particularly apt description caught me somewhere between the ribs like a tire-iron to the torso.

The descriptions of the scenes are equal parts vivid and devastating. If this, the world of pediatric oncology, is not one in which you’re familiar, then I urge you to steel your heart. But, you still must venture in. It is, without a doubt, a reminder of how lucky some of us are. It will make you hug your children a little tighter, it’ll put you on the phone with a parent, and it will, without a doubt, leave you changed.

Life as a Nurse and Papa
David Metzger writes about the lessons that he learned about life and death as a pediatric oncology nurse. He uses his experiences at work to gain insight and understanding of his role as a father to two young children. His life at work and at home intertwine to form a wonderful collection of the author's most cherished memories.

My Thoughts
It is not natural to talk about children and cancer in the same sentence, but Mr. Metzger has dedicated his life to caring for children with cancer. He writes about some of his most memorable patients and the valuable lessons he learned from them.

I could tell that the author was growing as a person and becoming more compassionate and empathetic as the book progressed. He gives credit to his patients for teaching him to live and die with dignity and grace. He credits his children for teaching him to live in the moment and appreciate all that life has to offer.

There are some very emotional stories in this book because many children with cancer do not survive the disease. The author focuses on the celebration of life instead of the sadness of death.

This book was well-written and I am glad I read it. I now have a new respect for all the superheroes who wear a nurse's uniform.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

Imagine taking care of sick children every day. Imagine that some of your tiny patients die. Imagine you comfort grieving parents. How do you do it? And how do you do it when you have a wife and two small children waiting for you at home? In Nurse Papa, David Metzger’s heartfelt memoir, he explains how his two very different lives complete him.

Every parent will understand Metzger’s love for and frustration with his young children. Think of the nights with little sleep, restless children in your bed and the ever present battle of wills with a toddler. While Metzger realizes how lucky he is to have healthy children, he is honest about all his emotions. When he comes home after a particularly difficult day, he retreats into himself until he wife tells him she needs more from him.

His desire to nurture and to be present in the moment carries over to the heartbreaking task of nursing children with cancer. Until the last days of life, he is optimistic his patients will improve and cherishes wristbands from children who were cured and went home. He and his fellow nurses cry about difficult cases but they also laugh ad joke with each other.

Nurse Papa is beautifully written. The stories of his patients and their families are beautifully written and you grieve for them all. They are the heroes of Nurse Papa but the star is David Metzger. His honest look at both parenthood and the hard work of nursing is brilliant. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, GenZ Publishing and David Metzger R.N. for this ARC.

I received an advance copy of, Nurse Papa, by David Metzger. This is a really good book about being an oncology nurse for children, and being a father.

This book is so relatable as I used to be a nurse myself and just became a new parent. This book gave me flashbacks when I was still practising and I remember I always avoided my rotation in the pediatric ward because it was heart-breaking for me to see a lot of sick kids and it made me realise I am not cut out for pediatric nursing. Over all, this book is heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. It shows the ups and downs of being a full-time carer, as a healthcare professional and as a parent. I was able to pick-up reflections in the book on the essence of being a parent and I hope other readers will do too. I commend nurse papa for doing an amazing job!