I have been dreading being hospitalized since the death of my sister. She lived directly across from the hospital and worked there. She was the person that always was sitting beside me whenever I was hospitalized at HFH.
Finally, my body couldn't go further without medical attention. I've put off much-needed medical care (herniated disc turned into a bulging disc crippling me from being able to walk) because I didn't have her sitting beside me anymore. It started with me just trying to change my appointment with the pain clinic from a follow-up to an epidural procedure which Dr. J wouldn't allow me to settle for as a way out. He called me that day over 4 times saying if he had to, he would send an EMS after me and wasn't going to stop calling me until he saw my name in the ER.
I received the worst news I could receive when I was finish being examined by the doctors in the ER; that I had to have surgery. I've been scared for over 9 years of shaving of my bulging disc but now it has completely come out of place. But the most fearful part was I didn't have my big sister who was always been there next to me. I wasn't going to have anyone there due to COVID rules. I literally tried to call the procedure off 4 times that morning in the ER. Things were going bad afterward until Brad decided to take me as his patient for the night when I got to the unit.
I was on guard because of previous nurses from recovery, until him. He came in with an, "I care about you," attitude which I was not ready for. Making sure my orders were put in the system. By accident, he came in as I was listening to my sister's voicemail at her old desk which hasn't been changed in 2. I told him I was listening to my sister's voicemail who used to work for the hospital. Who would always be sitting beside her baby brother every time I was hospitalized; the reason I even started coming to Henry Ford Hospital years ago.
Brad immediately said "let's record it," and "what's the number?" My face just dropped! I couldn't believe that amazing gesture. I haven't been able to even listen to her voicemail before that day. She was my closest sibling even though we were so far apart in age. That is real medical care. It's not all about medicine but medical care. But just knowing that the person that attending to you while you are in hospital, scared and alone, can show a level of humanity that I've never received from any other medical professional. I offered Brad every penny I had to my name at that time and told him this story and what I was going through emotionally being the first time hospitalized after her death. His response was that I could nominate him for a DAISY Award.
But he deserves more. The level of humanity, concern, and care has been the highest that I've ever received from anyone at Henry Ford Hospital. A true Medical Professional.