I wanted to write this letter not as a CNO but as a family member. I want to express my sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the Braselton Emergency Department for the excellent care they provided my husband today. As you know well, I am not an emotional person but today, my heart and mind were filled with anxiety and worry. My husband, E, woke up around 0300 with 8 of 10 pain just below his sternum. He developed this pain yesterday. My husband is very stoic and is very healthy. I woke up around 0700 and noticed he was not in the bed. I walked downstairs and found my 6-foot, 210-pound husband in a fetal position. I can’t begin to tell you the thoughts and fear I had. Being a nurse, I instantly thought my husband was likely having a cardiac event. I asked him to sit up and looked him in his eye…I immediately said, “Let’s go now”. He didn’t fight a bit. This also scared me, but I remained strong for him.

I arrived at the ED to be greeted by a great triage team. An EKG was immediately completed. They placed him in a wheelchair and took him to a room. That is when my emotions were trying to get the best of me but…my God…Damaris, RN walked into the room. I believe God knew that I needed her. If you speak to her, she will likely tell you that I remained calm and collected, but she has no idea what she did for me and of course, my husband. I want to explain what I witnessed. I witnessed her demonstrating “In All We Do” throughout the entire visit. When she walked in, she immediately greeted us with a smile, she introduced herself and explained everything that she was doing. I witnessed her using every safety measure. She didn’t miss one opportunity to check his armband…she scanned every medication; she explained what would be happening next…and before she left the room, she told us what we were waiting for…she was amazing.

But she did so much more than that…she remained in the moment. None of her other patients mattered when she was in the room. If they did, we didn’t notice. Finally, I felt and knew my husband was safe because of the small things she did that meant so much. She embodies our core values, and I personally witnessed her demonstrating several core competencies: empathy, radical listening, and vulnerability. Although I thanked her many times, I am not sure I can thank her enough for what she gave to me during our time in the ED. She gave me strength and confidence. Thank God my husband is ok. He is home tonight sleeping in his own bed, and I am so grateful for that.