Jacque may have saved my father’s life. My father was admitted to the ICU very ill. He was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and everything hurt…mainly his feet/ ankles, his left thumb, and stomach. Jacque was kind, compassionate, and gentle with my father. She took the time to educate other team members about his pain and what to take extra care of. 

My father became confused at times, and I advised Jacque that I was concerned about his altered mental status. She quickly relayed the info to his hospitalist. At one time, my father complained about various pain, but specifically said, “My liver hurts.” Jacque and I both said that it was a very specific location, and I wondered if it was just confusion. I didn’t think much of it but was still concerned. My dad was tachycardic and becoming agitated. His BP was low, and he was absolutely miserable. His confusion was increasing, and I told Jacque that my dad was normally sharp as a tack, and this was not his regular behavior. She said that even though he probably meant that his abdomen hurt, she would relay to his hospitalist that he specifically said his liver hurt. His provider ordered a CT of his brain and abdomen. His head CT was negative, but his CT of his abdomen showed his gallbladder was inflamed and angry and most likely aggravating his liver. Ultimately, my dad’s gallbladder was severely infected. He was too sick to have his gallbladder removed, so they inserted a drain to help get rid of the infection. 

If Jacque had not been hyper-vigilant with my father’s care, if she had simply brushed off his complaints because of his changing mental status, if she had not listened to my advice that this was NOT normal for him, my father may have died that night. He was so very ill, and I truly thought, “This is it.”

Not only, in my opinion, did she save my father’s life, but she treated him with the care I think she would give her own father. She explained EVERYTHING to my dad AND to me. She cared for me as if I was an extension of my dad. She made sure he had the very best care, and she made sure that I didn’t need anything. Even when she knew my dad would resist and give her “what for,” she was patient, kind, and gentle, and explained that this needed to be done, and she would do her very best to make sure it was as quick and painless as possible. 

Not only did Jacque treat my father as if he were a precious being, but she also made sure to communicate his tender feet, ankles, and thumb to everyone involved in his care. She was able to keep my dad calm and involved him in what was going on. She could have just told him this was what she was going to do and just done it. Instead, she involved him in the decisions which made him feel in control…even if he didn’t necessarily want what was coming (such as a bath). Jacque deserves this recognition HANDS DOWN. She is an angel in scrubs, and I am SO very thankful that she was there for my father and me.