My husband was scheduled for a 7 - 8 hour surgery to remove a tumor from behind his left eardrum. My family and I were in the waiting area all day receiving updates throughout the whole surgery. It was approximately 3:15 p.m. I talked with Dr. P on how the surgery went. He then explained that my husband would be in recovery for approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours due to the extent of the surgery. At approximately 6 PM we were told by the staff in that waiting area that my husband was still in recovery and we could move up to the Neurology ICU unit and wait there. When we moved up there I contacted that unit and told them we were there waiting for him - they told me that he was still in recovery due to no room available yet. Of course, this was already a very stressful and nerve wracking day and I was becoming very stressed due to not being able to be with my husband after 11 hours.
My cell phone then rang and it was Becky, the RN in the recovery department. She told me she knew how long and stressful of a day it was for us all and she thought it only appropriate that I could come see my husband in recovery for a few minutes even though this is not generally allowed. She told me where to go so she could come get me and let me see my husband. I immediately rushed back down to the First Day surgery waiting area and within a couple of minutes she indeed met me and took me back to see my husband. I then went back up to Neurology ICU and filled my family in after seeing my husband and told them they may as well go home due to such a long day.
Becky told me that I could come back to the First Day Surgery waiting area and she would come get me again so I could be with my husband until they were able to transfer him up to the ICU unit. We never left the recovery area until almost 11 PM when the ICU unit finally had a room available to him. I believe Becky went way above what her work expectations probably are...she was so caring and compassionate. She also helped to explain the answers to all of my questions regarding the machines that my husband was hooked up to. She knew what stress and pain we were going through. She helped to make me feel a little more relaxed and her letting me sit with my husband until he went up to ICU was extraordinary! She definitely is a very caring and compassionate nurse. I feel she deserves recognition for this great feeling and hope she continues to help other family members like she did with us, which I am almost certain she will and does.