Florence Nightingale is popularly called ‘Lady with the Lamp’ by the people all around the world.
Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 in a town named Florence situated in Italy. Her parents were popularly known as Nightingale, thus, they christened her Florence Nightingale. Florence was very kind hearted right from her very childhood. She could not bear the sight of poor people languishing in pain. She wanted to give relief to them.
She wanted to become a nurse and serve people. One day, she told her parents about the ambition of her life. Her parents were astonished to hear that their daughter wanted to become a nurse, the profession which was not treated with respect at that time.
Her parents didn’t give her the permission to become a nurse. She was compelled by her parents to join parties and lead a glamorous life. Florence had to accompany her parents in the parties, against her wishes, but in the spare time, she would go to the orphanages and serve the orphan children. Sometime she would go to the factories and work as labourer over there to feel the plight of the labourers.
She felt uneasy at her home, as her parents were not allowing her to serve the diseased people. At last her parents gave their permission to become a nurse. At that time she was of 34 years. She worked as a chief nurse in a hospital, but she was not satisfied in that job. She didn’t want great position. She wanted to serve the people languishing in pain and disease.
One day, she got the news that the govt. wanted nurses to serve the wounded soldiers of the war. Florence joined the services and began to serve the injured soldiers.
The wounded soldiers were kept in a very filthy place. There was no air or sunshine available in the hospital. There was no space left between the beds of the wounded soldiers, thus people felt it difficult to walk through the room.
There was no towel, soap or utensil to wash hands. Many soldiers died due to Malaria. Florence Nightingale was extremely disappointed to see their plight. She began to provide them the necessities at her cost. She also requested the doctors to help her in the work, but the doctors refused to do so.
Florence herself began to sweep and clean the hospital to give comfort to soldiers. People were surprised with her selfless attitude. Donations began to pour in. She took care that the patients should be provided fresh and nutritious food.
One day she requested the govt. to send her a few thousand shirts for the soldiers. The govt. sent her the shirts, but the incharge was very cunning. He refused to open the bag of shirts, without permission of the board.
Many soldiers died due to lack of clothes in the cold winters. Florence was grieved at their death.
Next time, she opened the bag of shirts without taking the permission of incharge. Florence involved herself fully in the service of wounded soldiers. She brought for them newspapers and books. She herself used to write letters on their behalf and sent them to their relatives. She requested the govt. to open up good hospitals for the injured soldiers and her request was accepted. The govt. opened up good hospitals for the soldiers and provided them all the necessities of life. Then Florence wrote a book, that proved to be beneficial for the doctors and the nurses.
She opened up a nursing training school in St. Thomas Hospital in England.
The govt. bestowed an award ‘Order of Merit’ in acclamation to her services. Florence Nightingale died in the year 1854 in England. She was indeed an angel descended from the heavens to Earth to serve the diseased and poor people of the world. Her fragrance shall linger on till the sun and moon cease to exist.
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