New Year's Eve started off very scary for me this year. I'm a right below knee amputee, I awoke with horrible pain and redness in my stump. My plan was to wait till after the holiday and call my Ortho Doctor first thing Tuesday morning. The infection I had, had other plans. By evening, green pus was emerging so I went to our local ED. After blood work, it was determined I had an infection in my bloodstream and was needing to be transferred to a bigger facility that offered Infectious Disease. 9:30am, I was transferred to the Parkview ED. Things went rather quickly, I was immediately admitted and told I would meet with a Trauma Ortho Doc Tuesday morning. I had great care on the 7th floor, I was getting fluids and IV antibiotics around the clock, I also met with Infectious Disease Monday evening. ID explained sepsis to me and got me prepared for what he thought Ortho would tell me the next morning.

Fast forward to Tuesday morning, I met with Doctor H. Dr. He explained to me the procedure in which needed done, needless to say I was scared to death! I had a serious infection that would not heal without the surgery, but I really just wanted to see my Ortho doctor from Cleveland Clinic. Dr. H had a full day booked in the OR, I asked him if I could talk things over with my husband and have my nurse contact his team and let him know what my decision was regarding the surgery. I went ahead and trusted Dr. H and had surgery later that day. After surgery, I was taken to the 4th Floor Ortho Trauma, where I met the most caring nurse I had ever encountered! Let it be known that since June of 2020, I have had several surgeries at one of the best facilities in Ohio, the Cleveland Clinic. Julie Tarlton far exceeded any expectations of a "good nurse." Right after surgery, I had an incontinent issue, unbeknownst to myself, due to the anesthesia and medications I was on. My husband and son were both in the room, Julie made it a joke and cleaned me right up, cleaned the bed, and never made me feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Her care did not stop there, she made sure throughout the remainder of her shift I had everything I needed to be as comfortable as possible.

Wednesday, Julie was my nurse again. I was bursting at the seams to tell her that my daughter was ready to deliver her baby any day, and it would be my first grandchild. Ortho had released me on their rounds as long as my pain was controlled; however, Infectious Disease wanted me to remain admitted. Cultures were taken the day of surgery and a final reading wouldn't be made until the 72 hour mark. It was already established that I had had a Staph infection from the cultures that were obtained from DRMC NYE at the ED. My daughter called me and said she was in labor, but not "active labor." I was scared for my own personal health but I also wanted to be there to see my first grandchild be born, as I am my daughter's birthing partner. I asked Julie to please call ID and see if they would release me on a broad spectrum antibiotic or if I could come back, I would do anything! ID was not budging, they wanted me to stay and that was that! I even went as far to contact my insurance company to guarantee payment of services if I left AMA. Julie came in my room again, as I'm in almost tears of the decision that I need to make. She says to me, "Let me work on this for you; there has to be an option that is good medically for yourself but would also let you be there for your daughter. When I say this woman was SUPERWOMAN, I mean she was SUPERWOMAN! Infectious Disease decided that if I agreed to a PICC Line and I would receive at home antibiotics three times daily, they would release me! Julie, however, did not stop there! She contacted the IV Crew to come get my PICC Line in stat! She contacted the Home Health Agency I would be using and had them there in 10 minutes! She took charge and took care of everything! The number of phone calls she made for me, the running back and forth, this woman did it all!! Julie's patients are absolutely her top priority when she is on the clock. She is her patients' advocate, and she gets the job done! I have never met a nurse like Julie and I honestly will never forget the way she treated me and my family. I wish every hospital had a "Julie," someone who loves their career and is 100% there for their patients! Kudos to Parkview Hospital, you have some of the best nursing staff I have ever encountered! Julie will always be my favorite!