Mary Clarke

“It is my wish and hope this dedicated and professional nurse gets the recognition that she deserves so much.  I have no doubt that because of her attention to detail and her subsequent actions that she indeed saved my life!  I came to the hospital on Monday 4-26-10 to have a minor medical procedure done, to have my throat scoped to check my ‘Barretts’ disease.  It was during her ‘prepping me’ for this procedure that she ‘picked up’ on my shortness of breath and proceeded to quiz me further about it.  She made the decision that I needed further examination by a physician and on her own volition got the wheels turning and because of her actions I am going to surgery tomorrow morning for open heart surgery to do a quadruple bypass.  I know your nurse Mary Clarke because of her actions saved my life and there are no words that can adequately thank her enough.  Because of you Mary Clarke I will now be able to watch my precious grand daughters grow up and they will have their ‘Bumpaw.’ BB" 

 “I was working in the next department with the nurse mentioned above.  Her patient came in for an outpatient procedure and was so short of breath he couldn’t state his name or date of birth.  She called back to the G.I. Room to let the physician know her concerns.  She became his advocate from that moment on.  The procedure was a simple quick twilight sedation procedure but she stressed the importance to the physician to come and look at this patient.  She felt his procedure should be cancelled due to his status.  The patient was sent to the ER for evaluation. The next time I worked, the family called looking for the nurse.  She was insistent to talk to Mary.  We took her phone number.  Mary returned the phone call.  The family said they wanted to thank her for saving his life.  It was determined that he needed a 4 vessel bypass.  Mary went to visit the patient in the hospital.  When he saw her he sobbed.  They held hands and Mary spent the next couple hours just sitting beside him.  The family said if Mary hadn’t been so persistent their loved one would have died.  They were truly grateful for her wonderful assessment skills and her persistence.  It’s an honor to work with nurses with this dedication.  I am so proud.  She truly is a patient advocate.  LAT.”