Heather Parks
May 2020
Heather
Parks
,
AGACNP-BC
ICU
Ascension Seton Williamson
Round Rock
,
TX
United States
I know the following story may not be a recount of an extraordinary event to come, but to me, the event was life-changing. I went for an outpatient biopsy and my lung collapsed. A small chest tube was inserted, and I went to the 4th Floor to get better. The second night, I needed a chest x-ray.
After that happened, I began to have breathing problems. The x-ray technician, R, stayed with me, and I finally told him that I did not think I was going to recover, and I felt that I may die. R rushed to the nurse's station and an alert was sent out.
When I first met Heather Parks from ICU, she burst through my room door out of breath. "I am out of breath from running so I can take care of you. What is going on?" I told her and somewhere in there, I told her I was pretty sure I was going to die. "No, you are not! That is not allowed. We have you and everything is going to be fine. I will tell you all about it later."
I looked up to see at least 10 people at the door and the hallway, including R. Heather went to work checking various things and calmly giving instructions to others. Finally I heard her say, "I think the chest tube has kinked." She handed her phone to a colleague and gave a number to dial. Soon a doctor was on skype watching Heather work. She told him what she was doing. She hooked up a solution to the chest tube, and I knew immediately she cured the problem. After it was all over, she explained what the problem was and how she fixed it.
She left my room after patting me on the arm and saying, "We had you the whole time, rest easy, friend." I am told Heather checked on me during the early morning hours, and after her shift she came into my room to see how I was doing. I have met very few people with Heather's qualities. I am deeply touched by her compassion and skill. By the way, R stayed with me till the "crisis" was over and waved goodbye.
I truly believe that I have witnessed this. God puts special people in special places for special times. I cannot thank those who responded to the call enough, and I cannot thank Heather and R enough. Thank you in advance for recognizing these two people.... they "saved my bacon" from my view.
After that happened, I began to have breathing problems. The x-ray technician, R, stayed with me, and I finally told him that I did not think I was going to recover, and I felt that I may die. R rushed to the nurse's station and an alert was sent out.
When I first met Heather Parks from ICU, she burst through my room door out of breath. "I am out of breath from running so I can take care of you. What is going on?" I told her and somewhere in there, I told her I was pretty sure I was going to die. "No, you are not! That is not allowed. We have you and everything is going to be fine. I will tell you all about it later."
I looked up to see at least 10 people at the door and the hallway, including R. Heather went to work checking various things and calmly giving instructions to others. Finally I heard her say, "I think the chest tube has kinked." She handed her phone to a colleague and gave a number to dial. Soon a doctor was on skype watching Heather work. She told him what she was doing. She hooked up a solution to the chest tube, and I knew immediately she cured the problem. After it was all over, she explained what the problem was and how she fixed it.
She left my room after patting me on the arm and saying, "We had you the whole time, rest easy, friend." I am told Heather checked on me during the early morning hours, and after her shift she came into my room to see how I was doing. I have met very few people with Heather's qualities. I am deeply touched by her compassion and skill. By the way, R stayed with me till the "crisis" was over and waved goodbye.
I truly believe that I have witnessed this. God puts special people in special places for special times. I cannot thank those who responded to the call enough, and I cannot thank Heather and R enough. Thank you in advance for recognizing these two people.... they "saved my bacon" from my view.