Amanda Salisbury
March 2013
Amanda
Salisbury
,
RN
ICU
WakeMed Health & Hospitals
Raleigh
,
NC
United States
I am the daughter of a patient that was in WakeMed Cary Hospital. My daddy had lots of great nurses during his stay, but there was one that always stood out. Her name is Amanda Salisbury, RN. My daddy was admitted for pneumonia. Three days after he was admitted he was sent to ICU and placed on a vent. He was in ICU and Step-down for about a week. It was during this time that our family felt we had become part of the ICU/SD family.
Several days later my dad was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. During his 1st chemo treatment a RRT had to be called for respiratory distress. It was there our connection was made even stronger with Amanda. She was the Rounding RN for that day. My mom was terrified, but Amanda explained everything and made sure she was okay with the treatment they were giving my dad. Amanda was there when they re-intubated him. She gave comfort to my mom when it seemed no one else could.
During the remainder of his hospital stay, Amanda would stop and say hey or see my mom in the cafeteria and make sure daddy was doing ok. Daddy was discharged a month later.
Eight days later, on a Monday, my daddy was readmitted with what all the doctors thought was a drug reaction. Tuesday morning another RRT was called because of his breathing. He was sent to Step-down and Amanda was the charge RN that day, she was also his nurse. She yet again explained everything that needed to be explained and answered whatever questions my mom and dad had with wonderful care and compassion. On Wednesday, she was the rounding RN and she stopped by several times to make sure they were doing ok. Thursday morning, daddy started having trouble breathing and it became evident he was not doing well. He was starting to get tired from all the breathing difficulties he was having. He was moved to ICU and was going to be placed back on the vent.
It was during this time the doctor, Amanda, another nurse Julie Hatch, and my dad's pastor explained to him what was going on. Daddy decided he did not want to be intubated and did not want anything else done. Them talking to daddy and him deciding what HE wanted, helped take the stress off of us, and allowed my daddy to make the decisions he wanted to make.
Amanda did everything she could to help make my daddy's last hours peaceful. One of his last requests was he wanted a Pepsi. She took her own money and went to the vending machine and bought him that Pepsi. He drank one swallow, but to know she did that for him said a lot to us.
My daddy passed away at 6:26pm that evening, surrounded by all of our family only hours after making his final decisions. After all was done, Amanda and many of the other nurses came to the waiting room and hugged, talked and cried with us. Several of the nurses also came to the Funeral Home to daddy's wake. That meant so much to my family and I thank the Lord every day that WakeMed has staff as dedicated to their job as Amanda and the other doctors and nurses that took care of my daddy. As hard as it was to lose my hero, I now have another hero...her name is Amanda Salisbury. May the Lord continue to bless her and WakeMed for all that they do!!
Several days later my dad was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. During his 1st chemo treatment a RRT had to be called for respiratory distress. It was there our connection was made even stronger with Amanda. She was the Rounding RN for that day. My mom was terrified, but Amanda explained everything and made sure she was okay with the treatment they were giving my dad. Amanda was there when they re-intubated him. She gave comfort to my mom when it seemed no one else could.
During the remainder of his hospital stay, Amanda would stop and say hey or see my mom in the cafeteria and make sure daddy was doing ok. Daddy was discharged a month later.
Eight days later, on a Monday, my daddy was readmitted with what all the doctors thought was a drug reaction. Tuesday morning another RRT was called because of his breathing. He was sent to Step-down and Amanda was the charge RN that day, she was also his nurse. She yet again explained everything that needed to be explained and answered whatever questions my mom and dad had with wonderful care and compassion. On Wednesday, she was the rounding RN and she stopped by several times to make sure they were doing ok. Thursday morning, daddy started having trouble breathing and it became evident he was not doing well. He was starting to get tired from all the breathing difficulties he was having. He was moved to ICU and was going to be placed back on the vent.
It was during this time the doctor, Amanda, another nurse Julie Hatch, and my dad's pastor explained to him what was going on. Daddy decided he did not want to be intubated and did not want anything else done. Them talking to daddy and him deciding what HE wanted, helped take the stress off of us, and allowed my daddy to make the decisions he wanted to make.
Amanda did everything she could to help make my daddy's last hours peaceful. One of his last requests was he wanted a Pepsi. She took her own money and went to the vending machine and bought him that Pepsi. He drank one swallow, but to know she did that for him said a lot to us.
My daddy passed away at 6:26pm that evening, surrounded by all of our family only hours after making his final decisions. After all was done, Amanda and many of the other nurses came to the waiting room and hugged, talked and cried with us. Several of the nurses also came to the Funeral Home to daddy's wake. That meant so much to my family and I thank the Lord every day that WakeMed has staff as dedicated to their job as Amanda and the other doctors and nurses that took care of my daddy. As hard as it was to lose my hero, I now have another hero...her name is Amanda Salisbury. May the Lord continue to bless her and WakeMed for all that they do!!