In the MICU we see a lot of tragedy and turmoil and many of our patient outcomes are not the greatest. I would like to recognize Jeff for being an outstanding nurse and resource not only to the MICU but to the whole hospital. Everyone knows who he is and what he is about. I would like to share one of many stories of Jeff's kind gestures I have seen over the years.
The MICU admitted a healthy older gentleman who had contracted the flu. He became very sick very quickly going into ARDS, was prone, then became our second ECMO patient. None of us thought he was going to make it, but he did. He was taken off ECMO and eventually woke up. Although it was a very long process of progress we all were elated. The night of February 13th came around and I was assigned to this patient for the night. I got report and went into the room to do my assessment and there was an orchid and a Valentine's Day card on the counter. I asked "who brought this in? Family?", thinking it was from a family member to the patient. One of the other nurses told me that Jeff had brought it in for the patient to give to his wife in the morning. The patient was too weak to even hold a pen let alone write. The patient was still a little bit slow to respond but in the morning Jeff patiently waited for him to get the words out to fill out the card for him. Jeff placed the orchid and card on the tray table over the patient to be waiting for his wife when she came in the morning. Before I left in the morning I commented to the patient, "I see you got your wife a present". The biggest smile came over the patient's face.
The patient went onto rehab and is now home and doing well. To see this man go through so much physically and emotionally and then to see that smile made it all worth it. Thank you, Jeff, for your thoughtfulness and willingness to go the extra mile for a husband and wife on Valentine's day.