This is Bobby Wesson, his wife Rayena, and their young son, Deacon, of Gardendale, Alabama. Bobby is a marketing strategist, and Rayena works as a trauma nurse. In spite of their hectic schedules, they always make time for their son and each other.
On Nov. 7, as he was getting ready for work, Bobby shared this photo of Rayena taking a nap with Deacon after a long nursing shift. He told BuzzFeed that he thinks his wife looks absolutely beautiful in such candid moments.
In the post, he wrote of how hard his wife works at her job but still always manages to make time for her family — while somehow making it all look easy.
This is my wife taking a nap. In an hour she will wake up, put on her scrubs and get ready for work.
The tools and items she needs to perform her job will be gathered and checked meticulously — her hair and makeup will be done quickly. She will complain that she looks awful. I will disagree, emphatically, and get her a cup of coffee.
She will sit on the couch with her legs crossed under her and try to drink it while happily playing with the toddler that's crawling all over her.
She will occasionally stare off blankly as we talk; silently steeling herself for the coming shift. She thinks I don't notice.
She will kiss the baby, she will kiss me, and she will leave to go take care of people that are having the worst day of their entire lives. Car wrecks, gunshot wounds, explosions, burn,s and breaks — professionals, poor, pastors, addicts, and prostitutes — mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and families — it doesn't matter who you are or what happened to you.
She will take care of you.
She will come home 14 hours later and remove shoes that have walked through blood, bile, tears, and fire from aching feet and leave them outside.
Sometimes she will not want to talk about it. Sometimes she can't wait to talk about it.
Sometimes she will laugh until she cries and sometimes she will just cry — but regardless of those sometimes she will be on time for her next shift.
My wife is a trauma nurse. My wife is a hero.
The post quickly went viral, resonating with a lot of people who appreciate the work nurses do. The post has over 500,000 likes and more than 130,000 shares to date.
Bobby Wesson told BuzzFeed the feedback to the post has been overwhelmingly positive, adding that he and his wife have been moved to tears by some of the responses.
"It's been really humbling and I've developed a much deeper appreciation for my wife and her profession," he said.
Many medical professionals, along with their family members, have also chimed in to show their appreciation.
Bobby told BuzzFeed his wife's work is a labor of love.
"She feels fortunate to be able to work in her field and she loves her job," he said. "It's hard and she works hard just like all nurses do but it's works that she feels a calling to do."
"She has been offered easier positions on multiple occasions and has always declined."
Bobby said his wife doesn't like being called a "hero," but he said he respectfully disagrees.
"I do believe that there a millions and millions of average, everyday heroes out there, and thank god for them. We need every single one of them," he said.
