A 50-year-old male patient was admitted to ICU for an anoxic brain injury after sustaining a cardiopulmonary arrest at home.The outlook was very grim.The family was consulting with Nebraska Organ Recovery Service for possible organ donation.After a few days in the ICU, his medical condition changed and he was no longer a candidate for donation.Late one evening, the family made the difficult decision to withdraw life support the next morning.His wife was trying to be strong for her children while they were there visiting their father.It was only when they left that she would break down and cry and allow herself to grieve her dying husband.She was very fortunate to have Angie as his nurse that night.
Angie was not only taking care of the patient, but she was taking care of his wife.The children had gone home for the night and the wife was spending her last night with her husband.She had been by his side every night.She was emotionally and physically exhausted, as she had not been sleeping.What Angie did for her that night was above and beyond the standard of care.Angie positioned the patient to the far side of the bed and allowed the wife to lay next to him for the last time.She finally slept.The next day they did withdraw life support and the patient passed away.I know that family will be forever grateful for Angie's extraordinary care.