I arrived at 8 AM to be with my husband and was told I would not be allowed on that floor. I then sat on a bench in shock not knowing what to do. My husband was in for an operation on 7 broken ribs and he has Parkinson’s that has advanced to dementia also so he couldn’t advocate for himself. Many people passed me but for one special nurse who bothered to stop and ask if I was ok. After I explained the situation she stayed with me, brought me coffee, got a spiritual care person to stay with me if she were called to a unit, and made calls that made it so I was eventually allowed to be with my husband.

My husband did have the operation and is now in the ICU and not breathing on his own, but thanks to a very caring Debbie, I got to be with my husband and care for him this past week. If she hadn’t helped me I would be seeing him for the first time intubated and not aware. Again, not many people would be aware of an upset stranger.