Dustin Kersey
March 2022
Dustin
Kersey
,
RN
Intensive Care Unit
Memorial Health Meadows Hospital
Vidalia
,
GA
United States
When it was over and the tears flowed from our eyes, Dustin was there. He consoled us, comforted us and you could tell in his eyes that he felt the pain we were going through.
My father was recently a patient at Meadows ICU for 1 month exactly. He was admitted with COVID pneumonia. His admitting nurse was Dustin Kersey. When I called to check on my father the next day, Dustin talked with me and answered all my questions, with me being a nurse myself I know how busy nurses can be and Dustin was very patient with me and I could tell from just this one conversation that he genuinely cared for his patients and their families.
My father spent 2 weeks on 100% bipap and 3 weeks on the ventilator. You hear the stories of how awful COVID can be, but until you are in the middle of it you just don't truly understand what an emotional roller coaster it can be. Dustin was my father's nurse several times and he always made it a point to come in the room to talk with us and answer our questions even when he was busy with other patients. Honestly, all the nurses and staff were amazing to us while we were there, when you or a loved one is admitted as long as my daddy was it's like they become family to you.
After a long weekend where my father showed continuing decline, his prognosis became very poor. We as a family made the difficult decision to remove the ventilator. This was the hardest decision of our lives and is something you are never prepared for. Dustin was Daddy's nurse on this day, a day we will never forget. Dustin came in, kneeled beside my father's bed, and comforted us as we were making this decision. He explained everything that would take place when it came time to remove the ventilator. When the time came and the ventilator was removed, Dustin did not leave our side. He stood right there with us until my father took his final breath. When it was over and the tears flowed from our eyes, Dustin was there. He consoled us, comforted us and you could tell in his eyes that he felt the pain we were going through.
Our family is so grateful that Dustin was my daddy's nurse on this day, a day we will never forget. It was only fitting that Dustin was Daddy's nurse on his last day, as he was Daddy's first nurse when we began this journey.
Note: This is Dustin's 2nd DAISY Award!
My father spent 2 weeks on 100% bipap and 3 weeks on the ventilator. You hear the stories of how awful COVID can be, but until you are in the middle of it you just don't truly understand what an emotional roller coaster it can be. Dustin was my father's nurse several times and he always made it a point to come in the room to talk with us and answer our questions even when he was busy with other patients. Honestly, all the nurses and staff were amazing to us while we were there, when you or a loved one is admitted as long as my daddy was it's like they become family to you.
After a long weekend where my father showed continuing decline, his prognosis became very poor. We as a family made the difficult decision to remove the ventilator. This was the hardest decision of our lives and is something you are never prepared for. Dustin was Daddy's nurse on this day, a day we will never forget. Dustin came in, kneeled beside my father's bed, and comforted us as we were making this decision. He explained everything that would take place when it came time to remove the ventilator. When the time came and the ventilator was removed, Dustin did not leave our side. He stood right there with us until my father took his final breath. When it was over and the tears flowed from our eyes, Dustin was there. He consoled us, comforted us and you could tell in his eyes that he felt the pain we were going through.
Our family is so grateful that Dustin was my daddy's nurse on this day, a day we will never forget. It was only fitting that Dustin was Daddy's nurse on his last day, as he was Daddy's first nurse when we began this journey.
Note: This is Dustin's 2nd DAISY Award!