Emily Oppel
April 2020
Emily
Oppel
,
BSN, RN, CCRN
ECMO Coordinator
CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center- Bergan Mercy
Omaha
,
NE
United States

 

 

 

My husband came to Bergan by Life Flight. He had coded 2 times before coming here while at another facility. I was unsure of what was going to happen. The next couple of days were a blur, to say the least. Several faces were around but one stood out. A nurse named Emily and her red-framed glasses. The first I noticed is that I saw her all day, then throughout the night and even into the next day. I told her she needed to go home and get some rest. She said she was leaving soon but she was fine. She was always there always checking on me. Made sure I knew what was going on with my husband and answered any questions. Always giving me hugs and just made sure I was doing okay. She even came up to the hospital on her day off, to just be here for me. She sat and just talked to me for over an hour. We just talked about life, to help ease my mind of everything going on with my husband. We connected on Facebook and have been messaging each other. She would check in on my husband to see how he was doing then touch base with me. I would go home to take care of my children, so she helped fill me in so I wasn't having to stay by his side constantly. I have been here for 19 days and counting. I feel as if I have not gone a day without seeing Emily. She has been my constant and my comforter through this journey. She truly has a heart of hold and has gone way over and beyond her duties. I don't know what I would have done if I did not have Emily by my side throughout this difficult road. She has never once made me feel like it was a bother to her. She has truly wanted to be here and go through every step with us. I know I have made a lifelong friend in her and she will always hold a special place in my heart.