After a nice and relaxing family vacation, we returned home at 10:30 at night. We woke up my son in the car and he immediately started crying and could not move his legs or stand to get out of the car. Being a nurse, I knew from his symptoms and the look on his face that he was severely dehydrated and all the fluids I pushed would not help at this point. We arrived in the Middletown ED and were immediately escorted back to our room.
Nurse John Keichline immediately came in and jumped into action. He was the most pleasant and kindest soul a person can meet. He spoke directly to K about what was going to happen in terms a 9-year-old can understand. Of course, K was very upset at the thought of a needle, but John remained calm, soothed K and let him know he wouldn't do anything to him until he was ready. He kept talking to him and reassuring him that all would be ok and soon he would feel better. In those moments, it was as if no other person or patient was more important than my son. John was compassionate, patient, kind, and gentle.
I have encountered many other nurses in my career, but none have shown me the kind of empathy and compassion that John demonstrated that night. He made us both feel that we were his top priority and no one or nothing was more important than us. John quickly got the IV in K and started the fluids needed to get him back on track. After a few short hours, K became his old self and could move his legs and stand on his own two feet. All the while, John was there, reassuring K, his father, and me that all would be well.
We have been truly touched by this angel of a nurse and have no doubt all his other patients that night felt the same level of expertise, compassion, and kindness.