On Friday, I was experiencing breathing problems. I left work around 11 am and went to a walk-in clinic. The clinic determined that I had a case of Bronchitis. They sent me home with no meds and instructed me to return to the clinic in a few days if things did not get better. After returning home, my breathing declined. I had never ever had problems breathing before. I have never smoked nor had a history of any lung related issues. Not being able to breathe, I decided it was time to listen to my body as something was seriously wrong. It was then we packed up and made a trip to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center Emergency Room. I was admitted to the emergency room and had various tests to diagnose my condition. I had blood tests, EKG, chest x-ray, and a CT scan of my chest. When the results of the CT scan came back, he informed me that I did not have a cold or bronchitis. He proceeded to tell me that I had multiple pulmonary emboli in both lungs. He said it is possible that I also have clots in my legs. I would be getting an ultrasound of my legs in the morning.
Around 9:30 pm on Friday, I was transferred to the 2nd floor. Mr. Talagtag was my nurse for the evening. I was very frightened when I arrived. You hear about people dying all the time from PEs. His face and smile welcomed me to the floor and reassured me that everything was going to be okay. I can't tell you how much that meant to me. You see, my entire family lives out of state. They are my support system. It is really upsetting when your entire family lives 1,100 miles away. That weekend, he felt like my parents, who were ever so kind, always checking up on me when I was ill. Bryce did the same, with quiet reassurance and a calm and peaceful manner. Every time he entered my room, he lit up my room with his exuberance. Not only was he attentive to my needs, he made me feel as if I was his only patient on the floor.
His nursing skills were also top notch. He monitored my condition closely. On Saturday night, I was having breathing issues. My oxygen levels were falling. He continued to monitor me throughout the night. My oxygen level had to be moved from a three all the way up to a level 10. I finally stabilized on level 10. He was the angel I never knew was there throughout this ordeal. Later Sunday night, he worked and monitored my breathing and I was ultimately able to come back down to a level 4.
Early on Monday morning, as he was making his rounds and transferring my care to the new nurse, I was sad as I knew this would be the last I saw of him. He had been my nurse for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. He made the difference to me during my stay and turned a frightening experience into a manageable one. I was amazed at how effortless he made his job seem. I was lucky to have such an amazing nurse at my bedside.
He touched my heart in so many ways. He has the best listening ears in the world. However, I believe it is not only his ears that listen; it is hisheart that made a tremendous difference. He truly was an angel. I have to say I won the "Lottery" when I was placed into his loving care.
Please let me convey my heartfelt thanks from my entire family. You also helped to alleviate their fears in not being able to be by my side. You are such a special person. Thank you so much, Bryce Talagtag! You rock, you are a superstar, you are the cat's meow, you are amazing! Thank you again. You will always have a special place in my heart.