Cathy Dunnihoo
March 2017
Cathy
Dunnihoo
,
RN
Emergency Department
Marian Regional Medical Center
Santa Maria
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

We will never forget Cathy Dunnihoo. My husband was on death's door; alcoholic with depression and lots of medical issues related to his alcoholism. We were separated at the time because I could no longer help him or survive living in that environment. Cathy got close to his face and told him she was there for him, and she was not going to let him die. She worked so hard to keep him alive. She told him he needed to get sober and get his life together. I was so touched by her efforts, of course not believing he would change. He spent days in ICU. I did not think he would remember Cathy's orders to get his life together, but he did. My husband has been sober for 2 years, we have reunited, and are more in love than we ever were. Cathy gave my husband back his life and gave me back the love of my life.
The patient smiled and said, "I felt so safe when I saw Cathy was my nurse again today. She single-handedly changed our lives. I hope you know what an amazing caring nurse you have here. We will never forget Cathy."