Jenna Norwood
January 2024
Jenna
Norwood
,
BSN RN
Critical Care Unit
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove
,
IL
United States
She was gone for a couple of days, and I lay there immobile, thinking of her warm smile and kind words whenever I was feeling down.
I am sitting here writing this letter at 5 am - the first morning after my discharge after two weeks of stay at GSAM. The entire CCU staff was outstanding, and I cannot say a bad thing about any staff member, doctor, assistant, or others I encountered during my stay. One RN stood out - her name was Jenna - and she helped me through the most difficult, traumatic experience of my entire life. I was flown in from over 100 miles away, leaving me far from home and family. I had just survived a major medical emergency and was just clinging to life, wondering if my time had finally come. I was scared, alone, and far from family support.
Jenna had been on duty the first few days of my hospitalization and always had a few words of hope and encouragement. That was very genuine and not seemingly rehearsed words said to all patients. She reminded and encouraged me to hang in; all would be well, and I would see my wife and family again soon. At first, I was extremely depressed, alone, and scared, but she helped pull me through this initial phase. I remember patiently awaiting shift change, hoping it would be her when I was introduced to the next shift. She was gone for a couple of days, and I lay there immobile, thinking of her warm smile and kind words whenever I was feeling down. Then, the day of surgery arrived, and when I finally regained consciousness, real horror arrived in the form of horrific nightmares and confusion about who I was, where I was, and what was happening to me. I seem to have bad reactions to the pain meds needed to do surgery. I started to have nightmares every time I closed my eyes to sleep. I tried not to sleep but would then pass back out and relive the horror. I guess I was trying to get up and out and needed to be restrained to keep me immobile so I wouldn't pull tubes.
When I finally stabilized and came back to my senses much later, she was there again with more warm words of encouragement and hope. She stopped in many times just to say hi and check on me. I was very sad when I was discharged as I felt I had built this connection with her. Thank you, GSAM - you pulled me through the most difficult time of my life. And special thanks to Jenna - may your life be blessed - I will never forget my angel of mercy.
Jenna had been on duty the first few days of my hospitalization and always had a few words of hope and encouragement. That was very genuine and not seemingly rehearsed words said to all patients. She reminded and encouraged me to hang in; all would be well, and I would see my wife and family again soon. At first, I was extremely depressed, alone, and scared, but she helped pull me through this initial phase. I remember patiently awaiting shift change, hoping it would be her when I was introduced to the next shift. She was gone for a couple of days, and I lay there immobile, thinking of her warm smile and kind words whenever I was feeling down. Then, the day of surgery arrived, and when I finally regained consciousness, real horror arrived in the form of horrific nightmares and confusion about who I was, where I was, and what was happening to me. I seem to have bad reactions to the pain meds needed to do surgery. I started to have nightmares every time I closed my eyes to sleep. I tried not to sleep but would then pass back out and relive the horror. I guess I was trying to get up and out and needed to be restrained to keep me immobile so I wouldn't pull tubes.
When I finally stabilized and came back to my senses much later, she was there again with more warm words of encouragement and hope. She stopped in many times just to say hi and check on me. I was very sad when I was discharged as I felt I had built this connection with her. Thank you, GSAM - you pulled me through the most difficult time of my life. And special thanks to Jenna - may your life be blessed - I will never forget my angel of mercy.