KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona, where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his led the Cardinals to Tampa Bay to compete in the Super Bowl against the always dangerous Pittsburgh Steelers.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NFL's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

As far as the Superbowl is concerned, I'm betting on he Pittsburgh Steelers. Any team which has a quarterback who wrecked his motorcycle in downtown Pittsburgh (and wasn't wearing a helmet) and has come back to lead his team has got to be tough to beat. Go Steelers! We will... We will.. rock you.....




If you know of anyone who has accomplished extraordinary things, and who has led a relevant life and has made a difference and who happens to be associated in our industry, we'd like to know about them. Please email me. I'd like to begin featuring stories on this blog.


Ralph E. Jordan
CEO & President
Trident Health Resources, Inc.

Happy New Year to All! Trident Reports Best Year in 20 Years of Company History Despite U.S. Recession and High National Unemployment Rate

With the holiday celebrations now behind us, most of you are hopefully refreshed from some time off, and now returning to work this week to begin focusing on 2009 goals. I would like to wish everyone a strong jump start in the New Year to achieve the best that can be within your work and personal domains. We're truly optimistic about the future as Trident closes our books from 2008 with the realization that the company just had its best year ever. Inasmuch as our good fortune comes at a time amid economic strain in our country, it is our hope to extend efforts to perfusionists to aid in the promotion of continued strength in our industry, particularly within the perfusion employment arena.

The U.S. Government reports the following statistics on the country's Unemployment Rate:

Both the number of unemployed persons (10.3 million) and the unemployment rate (6.7 percent) continued to increase in November.Since the start of the recession in December 2007, as recently announced by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the number of unemployed persons increased by 2.7 million, and the unemployment rate rose by 1.7 percentage points. (Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm )

Many sectors of industry are particularly at risk for unemployment. As we have all witnessed within the news over the past several months, our automobile manufacturers are forced to do major lay-offs and close plants and sales centers; banking and real estate have suffered historical lows; the stock market dives have left many private investors at great loss, and even after a hopeful Christmas season in retail, the numbers reported in sales at the close of 2008 were disappointing. Now many retailers are closing stores throughout the country. Yet, in our perfusion business, 2008 was the strongest year Trident Health Resources, Inc. has seen.

For the first time in our 20 year company history, Trident is fully staffed. I don't know what this means against the tides of a struggling U.S. economy other than perhaps the need for heart surgery is a steady business as much of our demographic population of Baby Boomers enters advanced age.

I have recently updated the Trident website employment page. We continue to recruit good perfusionists for future positions.We also pride ourself in sharing our knowledge of openings within other contract companies and for in-house hospital staffing needs, if and when, we become aware of them and are able to match and refer a qualified prospective perfusionist to a good career opportunity.

Trident's dedication to the industry extends beyond our own company needs. Our community website, www.perfusioncommunity.com is a stand-alone place for perfusionists to find the latest news and employment opportunities within many hospitals around the country. We keep our data current on a weekly-sometimes daily-basis. I'm excited to tell you that this month at Perfusion Community we are establishing a resume bank for perfusionist job seekers, which will allow job seekers a one-stop-shop for job hunting. Potential employers will have the ability to search the resume bank and contact prospects directly about openings. This is yet another added service Perfusion Community will soon offer.Please be sure to check online frequently for the latest developments.

Finally, it is with much empathy I feel for struggling industries that we all rely upon as American consumers.I am hopeful with a new presidency that tax relief programs will improve these conditions.

If you'd like to contribute comments to the state of the country's economy or employment situation, I'd certainly be interested in hearing them.Feel free to post your comments here or email me directly.

Wishing you all the best in health and prosperity in 2009.

Ralph E. Jordan
CEO & President
Trident Health Resources, Inc.