Andy Pachon
June 2021
Andy
Pachon
,
RN
ICU/Rapid Response
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend
Springfield
,
OR
United States
Andy asked if I wanted him to hold my hand, and I nodded yes, so he took my hand. I immediately felt safe.
I was attacked by my former partner in my home, while my mom and 6-year-old son hid upstairs and called for help. I have since learned has Bipolar 2 and had a psychotic break. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and I am working to get full custody of my son. I was stabbed 19 times during the attack. I had wounds on my upper left arm, my chest (my left lung was lacerated), my chin, defensive wounds on my hands, the right side of my skull, and the final wound went between C5 and C6 and came out my throat. I could see the knife sticking out. The Eugene Police Officers who arrived saved my life by applying combat gauze to the wound on my neck.
Right before the officers arrived, I felt myself dying and knew my body was fighting to stay alive. The paramedics arrived and got me to Riverbend in record time. As they wheeled me into the trauma room, I opened my eyes. A man at my feet introduced himself as a doctor. Then a man to my left said, “I’m Andy and I’ll be your nurse.”
I responded by saying, “Please don’t let me die.” I held up my left hand and wiggled my fingers. Andy asked if I wanted him to hold my hand, and I nodded yes, so he took my hand. I immediately felt safe. I don’t remember anything after that, but I now know I received 3 units of plasma and 3 units of blood. I was taken to surgery from the ER to stitch up wounds and crashed coming out of that surgery. I had a second surgery that afternoon to stitch the defensive wound on my hand. I spent the next 2 days in ICU, then Sunday was taken in for a 3rd surgery to remove a clot in my neck.
My stay at Riverbend ended the day after Christmas. Though it was certainly not how I had planned to spend the holiday, I never for a minute felt alone. Then one day Andy walked into my room to check on me, greeting me with “How are you doing, Buttercup?” He told me he had also stopped to see me in ICU, but I did not remember. I had not stopped thinking about him while I was there, so I was thrilled to see him! Once I was discharged and began my healing at home, I found that telling my story was very therapeutic. Every time I recounted the events of that early morning, I told the story of my angel, Andy. I really wanted to find him and tell him how much of an impact he made on me.
I reached out to my friend who worked in the Emergency Department at the time. He knew whom I was talking about and provided some information. In October, my son and I wear in a car accident, and I was transported for neck and back pain. My nurse that day had no idea whom I was talking about. I was starting to think I may never be able to thank him in person.
At the sentencing hearing for my attacker, I had the opportunity to give an Impact Statement. Included in that statement was:
“I looked to my left and saw my angel. His name is Andy, and he is part of the Rapid Response Team. He told me he was my nurse, and said, “How you doing, Buttercup?” “I don’t want to die.” I wiggled my hand and he asked if I wanted him to hold my hand. I nodded yes. He asked if he could take off my necklace. It is the diamond from my mom’s wedding ring and is very special to me. I was actually shocked it made it through everything.”
Having attended a university with a great nursing school, and then having worked at another university with a great nursing school for 10 years, I have a lot of friends who are nurses. I know that yours is an incredibly challenging job, and you often don’t get to know what happens next. Everyone who was a part of that day played a role in me being alive today, allowing me to be with my son. I have been so blessed to meet the officers who saved me, the call taker who helped keep my mom calm when she called 911, the staff from CAHOOTS who stayed with my son while my mom met with police, the social worker who determined my son’s dad is a danger to children, but that there was no place better for him than with me.
And Andy. Thank you for this opportunity to recognize Andy and what a truly incredible impact he made on me.
Right before the officers arrived, I felt myself dying and knew my body was fighting to stay alive. The paramedics arrived and got me to Riverbend in record time. As they wheeled me into the trauma room, I opened my eyes. A man at my feet introduced himself as a doctor. Then a man to my left said, “I’m Andy and I’ll be your nurse.”
I responded by saying, “Please don’t let me die.” I held up my left hand and wiggled my fingers. Andy asked if I wanted him to hold my hand, and I nodded yes, so he took my hand. I immediately felt safe. I don’t remember anything after that, but I now know I received 3 units of plasma and 3 units of blood. I was taken to surgery from the ER to stitch up wounds and crashed coming out of that surgery. I had a second surgery that afternoon to stitch the defensive wound on my hand. I spent the next 2 days in ICU, then Sunday was taken in for a 3rd surgery to remove a clot in my neck.
My stay at Riverbend ended the day after Christmas. Though it was certainly not how I had planned to spend the holiday, I never for a minute felt alone. Then one day Andy walked into my room to check on me, greeting me with “How are you doing, Buttercup?” He told me he had also stopped to see me in ICU, but I did not remember. I had not stopped thinking about him while I was there, so I was thrilled to see him! Once I was discharged and began my healing at home, I found that telling my story was very therapeutic. Every time I recounted the events of that early morning, I told the story of my angel, Andy. I really wanted to find him and tell him how much of an impact he made on me.
I reached out to my friend who worked in the Emergency Department at the time. He knew whom I was talking about and provided some information. In October, my son and I wear in a car accident, and I was transported for neck and back pain. My nurse that day had no idea whom I was talking about. I was starting to think I may never be able to thank him in person.
At the sentencing hearing for my attacker, I had the opportunity to give an Impact Statement. Included in that statement was:
“I looked to my left and saw my angel. His name is Andy, and he is part of the Rapid Response Team. He told me he was my nurse, and said, “How you doing, Buttercup?” “I don’t want to die.” I wiggled my hand and he asked if I wanted him to hold my hand. I nodded yes. He asked if he could take off my necklace. It is the diamond from my mom’s wedding ring and is very special to me. I was actually shocked it made it through everything.”
Having attended a university with a great nursing school, and then having worked at another university with a great nursing school for 10 years, I have a lot of friends who are nurses. I know that yours is an incredibly challenging job, and you often don’t get to know what happens next. Everyone who was a part of that day played a role in me being alive today, allowing me to be with my son. I have been so blessed to meet the officers who saved me, the call taker who helped keep my mom calm when she called 911, the staff from CAHOOTS who stayed with my son while my mom met with police, the social worker who determined my son’s dad is a danger to children, but that there was no place better for him than with me.
And Andy. Thank you for this opportunity to recognize Andy and what a truly incredible impact he made on me.