Abby Patterson
January 2021
Abby
Patterson
,
RN
Emergency Department
Colquitt Regional Medical Center
Abby sat with me and listened to 59 years of marriage. The high points and low ones, like the death of our 29-year-old daughter from cancer. She cried with this 80-year-old man, held my hand, and reassured me that my wife was ok.
Abby was nominated by a patient who recently spent several days in our COVID-19 unit with his wife who was also receiving care. After a difficult four nights in the hospital he and his wife, who has dementia, were discharged home, only to both return two days later due to weakness, heart problems, and other COVID-related issues. The patient came into the ER and then was transferred to room X where his wife was being treated. During their stay, they would be celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary and Christmas. Only a few hours into his time in room X, the patient had to be transferred back to receive additional A-Fib treatment in the Emergency Department. The next morning, when his treatment was complete, he was to be taken back to his room to be with his wife. Due to increased patient volume in the ER and COVID unit, his transfer back to his room was delayed several hours longer than anticipated. The patient reached out to inquire about getting back to his wife and then, as he wrote, "about 11pm, an angel from heaven, Abby Patterson, stepped into my room and asked if I needed anything."
The patient writes: "I explained my situation and she listened and asked if she could have 30 minutes to find out what was going on. She returned as promised and fully explained what happened. She had checked on my wife and assured me that she was good and she offered to push my bed to the 5th floor so I could see her. I declined due to the late hour and because I would have to leave her again. Abby sat with me and listened to 59 years of marriage. The high points and low ones, like the death of our 29-year-old daughter from cancer. She cried with this 80-year-old man, held my hand, and reassured me that my wife was ok. We talked about our walk with God and six trips to Israel and she reminded me that my God was still in control. She brought in the charge nurse who assured me that I would be the first one the doctor would see, the paperwork would get completed, and she would get me to my room on Christmas morning. For these reasons, I would love to nominate nurse Abby Patterson as a deserving recipient of The DAISY Award."
The patient writes: "I explained my situation and she listened and asked if she could have 30 minutes to find out what was going on. She returned as promised and fully explained what happened. She had checked on my wife and assured me that she was good and she offered to push my bed to the 5th floor so I could see her. I declined due to the late hour and because I would have to leave her again. Abby sat with me and listened to 59 years of marriage. The high points and low ones, like the death of our 29-year-old daughter from cancer. She cried with this 80-year-old man, held my hand, and reassured me that my wife was ok. We talked about our walk with God and six trips to Israel and she reminded me that my God was still in control. She brought in the charge nurse who assured me that I would be the first one the doctor would see, the paperwork would get completed, and she would get me to my room on Christmas morning. For these reasons, I would love to nominate nurse Abby Patterson as a deserving recipient of The DAISY Award."