Jenny Driscoll
March 2021
Jennifer
Driscoll
,
RN
MICU
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston
,
MA
United States
I was immediately struck by Jenny's energy, friendly demeanor, and empathy.
My young (58), healthy (golf bag toting, weightlifting, Peloton riding) husband, R, contracted COVID and was admitted to BWH. His health quickly declined, and he was moved to the MICU and was vented. I met Jenny in the MICU after my husband, R, had been there already for 2-1/2 weeks. It was a tumultuous time, filled with many ups and downs. For example, one day, we were told by the attending doctor that "we anticipate complete respiratory recovery."
The reason Jenny and I met is that my daughter and I were allowed to visit R in the ICU due to his extremely critical condition (i.e. "End of Life"). We came out of R's room, completely distraught and crying, and spoke with the attending doctor about the possibility of moving R to another hospital for a possible lung transplant. It had been explained that BWH would not put R on ECMO as he had been "too sick for too long", and that ECMO would only be used as a bridge to move him to another hospital for transplant consideration. I was in shock. Jenny was just coming on the night shift and quickly introduced herself, writing her name and cell phone number on a card, handing it to me, and telling me to call anytime, day or night. I was immediately struck by her energy, friendly demeanor, and empathy.
The next week was a whirlwind - R was accepted to the TICU with the intention of consideration for a lung transplant at BWH! I lost Jenny in the move, but we stayed in touch, having exchanged cell phone numbers. Although I had and have extremely competent nurses and doctors along the way, Jenny remained a sounding board for the overwhelming array of procedures (ECMO, Tracheostomy, PEG, Bronchoscopys, etc.) Not only would she work the 12-hour night shift, but she would come home to 4 young kids AND take the time to text and occasionally speak with me IN LENGTH about my husband's ordeal.
I want to share one of her early text messages with you: "Saturday night I prayed with R. I told him I could see how wonderfully, and perfect God made him. I said I could see that within him was a fighter and that God created him for this role (no, I don't believe that God plans things like this) but I do believe he has been preparing him his whole life for greatness through challenge. My final prayer/plea with God was that he move so majestically HERE in Brigham. I begged that he speak into the hearts of anyone that had a say whether R got lungs and treatment here in Boston. And here WE are. Fighting like hell, HERE in Boston. Not out of luck, but out of LOVE. My gut rarely speaks to my heart in the MICU. My heart is just always sad by the inevitable outcome I know will occur with 90% of my patients. From the moment I met your Husband, I began praying for him, with him actually. The first night I helped turn him (I never met him) I prayed while with him. And those first three nights I cared for him I cried and prayed a lot. I lost my dad three years ago and it was/is the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, I told GOD that these children weren't ready. That although I wasn't ready and my dad wasn't ready, his death had meaning and purpose. R is not ready. I don't know why I wrote all this, it probably makes more sense in my head. I hope it makes sense and you are comforted by it. Today's report was a good ICU day. Please, God, prepare my boyfriend for a restful night." It was sweet and endearing that she referred to my husband as her boyfriend, and her messages were heartfelt and very personal.
I am thrilled to report that my husband is lifting out of delirium, is beginning his journey to becoming ambulatory, and his lungs are showing signs of recovery. We are hopeful that this momentum continues, and that he will not need a lung transplant after all. We are blessed to have an Army of Angels not only at BWH but with our extended family and network of friends.
I thank God every day for beautiful souls like Jenny who have made such a profound difference in my life.
The reason Jenny and I met is that my daughter and I were allowed to visit R in the ICU due to his extremely critical condition (i.e. "End of Life"). We came out of R's room, completely distraught and crying, and spoke with the attending doctor about the possibility of moving R to another hospital for a possible lung transplant. It had been explained that BWH would not put R on ECMO as he had been "too sick for too long", and that ECMO would only be used as a bridge to move him to another hospital for transplant consideration. I was in shock. Jenny was just coming on the night shift and quickly introduced herself, writing her name and cell phone number on a card, handing it to me, and telling me to call anytime, day or night. I was immediately struck by her energy, friendly demeanor, and empathy.
The next week was a whirlwind - R was accepted to the TICU with the intention of consideration for a lung transplant at BWH! I lost Jenny in the move, but we stayed in touch, having exchanged cell phone numbers. Although I had and have extremely competent nurses and doctors along the way, Jenny remained a sounding board for the overwhelming array of procedures (ECMO, Tracheostomy, PEG, Bronchoscopys, etc.) Not only would she work the 12-hour night shift, but she would come home to 4 young kids AND take the time to text and occasionally speak with me IN LENGTH about my husband's ordeal.
I want to share one of her early text messages with you: "Saturday night I prayed with R. I told him I could see how wonderfully, and perfect God made him. I said I could see that within him was a fighter and that God created him for this role (no, I don't believe that God plans things like this) but I do believe he has been preparing him his whole life for greatness through challenge. My final prayer/plea with God was that he move so majestically HERE in Brigham. I begged that he speak into the hearts of anyone that had a say whether R got lungs and treatment here in Boston. And here WE are. Fighting like hell, HERE in Boston. Not out of luck, but out of LOVE. My gut rarely speaks to my heart in the MICU. My heart is just always sad by the inevitable outcome I know will occur with 90% of my patients. From the moment I met your Husband, I began praying for him, with him actually. The first night I helped turn him (I never met him) I prayed while with him. And those first three nights I cared for him I cried and prayed a lot. I lost my dad three years ago and it was/is the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, I told GOD that these children weren't ready. That although I wasn't ready and my dad wasn't ready, his death had meaning and purpose. R is not ready. I don't know why I wrote all this, it probably makes more sense in my head. I hope it makes sense and you are comforted by it. Today's report was a good ICU day. Please, God, prepare my boyfriend for a restful night." It was sweet and endearing that she referred to my husband as her boyfriend, and her messages were heartfelt and very personal.
I am thrilled to report that my husband is lifting out of delirium, is beginning his journey to becoming ambulatory, and his lungs are showing signs of recovery. We are hopeful that this momentum continues, and that he will not need a lung transplant after all. We are blessed to have an Army of Angels not only at BWH but with our extended family and network of friends.
I thank God every day for beautiful souls like Jenny who have made such a profound difference in my life.