My stepfather was flown from Southside Community in Farmville to MSTICU this past Saturday with a substantial epidural bleed after a fall. His condition was grim from the beginning and we were aware of the likely outcome. True to form for my extended family, there was a complete disconnect in what was best for him going forward after meeting with the doctor. My mother and his daughters were in and out of the unit with him after surgery, and they were at odds from the beginning about a plan of care. I met with Karey on Sunday at the bedside to get a real grasp on the situation and thankfully, she was able to provide me with all of the information that we needed to make a solid plan for Papa.

As MPOA and wife, my mother was struggling to make the right decisions against the wishes of his children. As a nurse with ICU and ED background, she relied on both Karey and me for validation that she was doing the right thing. Karey was absolutely the most professional in her NURSE scope, but also one of the most genuinely caring PEOPLE I have ever met. She answered every question we had and offered all of the options that we faced going forward. She facilitated ‘no escalation of care’ with the neurosurgery and trauma teams for us and ensured my mother numerous times that my stepfather would not suffer from a terminal extubation plan. She provided the validation that Mom needed to move forward- something that she needed from your healthcare team and not just our family.

In true form, my extended family was not at all easy to deal with, and I’d like to apologize for the childish behavior displayed on our end. The nurse in me understands how disconnected families can make shifts incredibly hard to manage, but Karey never once let that show. We left there on Sunday knowing that he was in the best hands. Mom never once second guessed her decisions after that, and I can’t tell you how much that means to my family.