I was in the ICU after suffering a stroke and then underwent open heart surgery. My nurses were Holly and Elyse. I was still trying to wrap my head around what happened within the last 4 days and these two were not only amazing to me, but my entire family as well. They were very open and clear to me with what they were doing every time they came into the room. They also made sure that my family knew what they were doing and what they were checking for, and when they would be back to check on me next. They never left the room without making sure my family and I were okay, and always asked if we needed anything.
The love, compassion, and generosity they showed, again not only to me but my family, during this hard time was beyond anything I've seen or felt before. They were there cheering me on when I didn't want to walk or get up. At night, I needed to get up and move around. Holly was so enthusiastic and cheerful telling me that I could do it, that she had confidence in me, and that she was right there and not going to let me fall or anything happen to me. I have a hard time trusting others, but with Holly I had no doubts. I knew that she wasn't going to let me fall or get hurt. She was right there with me the whole time. I had taken maybe 10-15 steps and she was telling me how proud she was of me, that she knows I could walk further, and she would follow me the entire way.
She hung out in the room with my family to see some of the Kentucky basketball game. When you are 30 years old, engaged to be married in 7 months, have a 4-year-old and then you not only have a stroke but open heart surgery you can't help but be scared and upset, although it wasn't like that because of Holly and Elyse. They allowed me to be sad and angry, but then were right there to push me through it and help me understand what I had been through and what I needed to do for the future. They made me see the good side of things and truly made my stay in the ICU that much better.
I don't know that my experience with such a tough situation would have been so positive if it hadn't been for them.Elyse was pregnant while I was there, so I know that some things could be harder for her to do (such as helping me sit up to move out of the bed) yet she was right there, more worried about me than anything else. I honestly could go on about both of these girls, they were angels sent to help me through this and I don't know that I could have done it without them.