Had it not been for Kaitlyn's patience, understanding, and great kindness, my experience would have been quite different.
I arrived at Cardiac ICU having or having had a heart attack. That was shock enough but was followed by a procedure to get stents, and a stroke. In between two of those events, I died and am told I was gone for 6 minutes. I remember moments of sheer disbelief, panic, a great deal of fear. I am grateful to the whole team responsible for my care and very aware that credit certainly goes to many more than one person for the fact that I am here to write this letter.
That said, every time I became conscious on Monday, I saw Kaitlyn's face. She eased my concerns about the medications that were administered, she compassionately explained the things that had happened to me, she very firmly instructed me not to get out of the bed alone, so many things. When I had to have an MRI, she came with me and sat with me while I went through it. I don't know how I would have handled it without her. Honestly, I was petrified.
A heart attack, a stroke, a code blue, the procedures and tests involved, and one nurse consistently there to see me through all of it with kindness and compassion that was genuine and gratefully received.
To me, Kaitlyn is the portrait of a nurse who loves and is dedicated to her profession. She is the nurse that any of us are grateful to have cared for us under such circumstances. I know that just as she encouraged me, she will make immeasurable differences in the lives she touches. May God bless her with many, many years of service.