Devvon Dionysius
October 2023
Devvon
Dionysius
,
RN
Neuro-Trauma ICU
St. Luke's University Hospital
Bethlehem
,
PA
United States
On the second day, when we called all of the family to come, Devvon took special care to shave my father and prop him in bed so that he looked comfortable. This was especially helpful to my mother as she grappled with the decision to stop intervention.
My father was involved in a freak accident whereby he was pinned under his tractor and could not breathe. My mother was the one who found him and told us when we arrived that he was gone. The EMT team that arrived was able to resuscitate him during the ride to St. Luke’s Bethlehem. When we arrived at the ER, we were ushered into a small room and eventually told that he was alive, his heart was beating on his own, and he was on a ventilator, but not much else was known. He was transferred to the 6th floor ICU in the blue tower. It was there that we met Devvon.
Devvon was his primary nurse throughout most of our stay, which lasted for 2 ½ days. By happenstance, Devvon was working several days in a row. He was very gentle while caring for my father and always asking us if we needed anything. As time progressed, Devvon would explain my father’s status and gently help us understand that the amount of time he was without oxygen caused irreversible brain damage. On the second day, when we called all of the family to come, Devvon took special care to shave my father and prop him in bed so that he looked comfortable. This was especially helpful to my mother as she grappled with the decision to stop intervention. Despite the visitor’s policy, Devvon allowed us to gather as a family at his bedside together and was so respectful of allowing us whatever time we needed.
When we decided it was time to let go, Devvon oversaw the procedure. This coincided with the end of his week, but he took the time to say goodbye to each of us individually, explaining that the process could take some time but that he would have us in his thoughts.
Three and a half hours later, my father did pass very peacefully. We are so thankful that we had the time to all say goodbye and to know in our hearts that we made the right decision under the circumstances. Such a large part of that was due to Devvon’s care of both my father and all of us. His ability to not only provide excellent patient care but also to explain what was happening in an understandable way to us was extraordinary.
Devvon was his primary nurse throughout most of our stay, which lasted for 2 ½ days. By happenstance, Devvon was working several days in a row. He was very gentle while caring for my father and always asking us if we needed anything. As time progressed, Devvon would explain my father’s status and gently help us understand that the amount of time he was without oxygen caused irreversible brain damage. On the second day, when we called all of the family to come, Devvon took special care to shave my father and prop him in bed so that he looked comfortable. This was especially helpful to my mother as she grappled with the decision to stop intervention. Despite the visitor’s policy, Devvon allowed us to gather as a family at his bedside together and was so respectful of allowing us whatever time we needed.
When we decided it was time to let go, Devvon oversaw the procedure. This coincided with the end of his week, but he took the time to say goodbye to each of us individually, explaining that the process could take some time but that he would have us in his thoughts.
Three and a half hours later, my father did pass very peacefully. We are so thankful that we had the time to all say goodbye and to know in our hearts that we made the right decision under the circumstances. Such a large part of that was due to Devvon’s care of both my father and all of us. His ability to not only provide excellent patient care but also to explain what was happening in an understandable way to us was extraordinary.