I've had the pleasure of working alongside Anna Eads for quite some time now and I have always admired her heart and compassion shown toward her patients and families. She was always a mentor for me when I was a new nurse, and I could always depend on her for any questions I had. But recently, I was able to witness the exceptional person and nurse that Anna is from a different perspective.
My mom was brought into our emergency room when she suffered a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest in the field. Many volunteers worked relentlessly to revive her until the EMS arrived. The drive to the hospital was the longest of my life and I was even more nervous to step foot into the hospital, as I knew a good outcome was likely not in our favor. But as I'm waiting, the first person I saw was Anna. She looked in a hurry, but immediately stopped and asked what was wrong, considering I was in a bridesmaid dress waiting in the ED. When I told her what had happened she hugged me and said, "I'm going to go get an update for you". They took us into a consultation room where Anna told me my mom had coded again and they were doing everything possible to save her. She sat with me and my husband and said, "I want to tell you this is not good". I already knew that, but it was somehow comforting to know she would not try to keep anything from me. I knew at that point I could depend on her to give me honest, true updates.
Anna never left my side unless it was to check on the progress and to give me updates. I remember her doing what would seem like little things to other people but were huge to me. Like getting tissues, drinks, comforting my husband who was trying to be strong for me and even fanning out our room with the door when I complained it was hot in there. And I will never forget the heartache in her eyes the last time she came in and told me I had just lost my mother. We cried together, we sat in silence, and she was there to comfort us as I had to call my sisters, who live across the country, to tell them of this unimaginable loss. She stayed with me when my grandparents were there, and I had to tell them they just lost their oldest child. I remember she never left me.
Being in healthcare, we witness many tragedies with patients and families, but I never understood the true value in compassionate actions and words until I was sitting on the other side of the conversation. Every team member that day went above and beyond for me and my family and so many people deserve a huge shout-out; but anyone who can sit down and deliver such heart wrenching news to a fellow peer with such compassion and dignity deserves to be recognized. Anna was my angel that day, and I will be forever grateful for her.