Crystal Freeman, RN

Crystal Freeman received a patient for Kidney stones which needed surgical intervention. Upon assessing heart sounds, she heard something abnormal, a heart murmur. Crystal asked the patient if she was ever told that she had a heart murmur, which she had not. Crystal notified Cardiology to confirm. An echo was ordered and revealed a bicuspid aortic valve, a large aortic aneurysm, and aortic stenosis. The patient was then scheduled for open heart surgery. This young patient could have gone years without this abnormality being detected. The patient’s husband wrote to Ochsner to personally recognize and thank her, stating "excellent nurse that saved a life.” The young patient stated: “Crystal knew that I was alone on arrival and made me feel as comfortable as I could. I cannot express to everyone how thankful I am that I was blessed to have Crystal as my nurse. In my heart I feel like Crystal was my guardian angel and was put in my path the night I was admitted so that my life would be spared for my 3 children and husband. She goes above and beyond the call of duty for her patients.”