Nurse Debbie Vaughn is literally an angel to me. She was sent to preserve my life in one of the most capricious times I have ever experienced.
I had an open myomectomy that went successfully. When I woke up from the general anesthesia I was given for surgery, my hellish experience began. My blood pressure dropped to unimaginable numbers at least six times. I was so unstable that even doctors and nurses were scared that I might not make it through the ordeal. My husband was with me through it all and thought at one point that it was a touch-and-go situation. He met nurse Debbie first at the recovery area that I was going to be transferred to if I stabilized enough to be transferred. Whether or not I stabilized enough to be transferred to Nurse Debbie’s unit is up for debate, but I was transferred anyway. I know it is one reason why I am alive and strong enough to give this recognition.
Nurse Debbie was very proactive about my stabilization and recovery. My husband told me afterward that she had a plan for me even before I got there.
She alerted the rapid team and the resident doctor and told them about my situation. When I got to her unit, she introduced me to other wonderful nurses who were quick and ready to help me recover. Sadly, my blood pressure dropped again even after my first blood transfusion, and I tanked again. That’s when I saw Nurse Debbie’s sizeable army go to bat for me. Doctors, nurses, and everyone around me are doing everything to keep me alive. It worked! I stabilized! After six hours of going in and out of consciousness, one woman’s proactive approach saved my life. She has a tenderness about how she takes care of her patients. She is one of the most compassionate nurses I have ever met. She is also a great instructor and taught me how to take care of myself after my hospital stay. She monitored me like a bear would its offspring. She assigned other wonderful nurses to take care of me when she was off duty.
I am eternally grateful to have met Nurse Debbie.