Let me share a wonderful story about an amazing, caring, compassionate nurse who made a significant difference in my life. Approximately 8 years ago, I was diagnosed with CREST Syndrome. CREST is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder. It was so named due to the five main features of the disease: Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, Esophageal dysmotility, Sclerodactyly, and Telangiectasias. I include these details to emphasize the complexity of the disease and thus the management thereof. While I am followed by several specialists, the Internal Medicine Clinic at the FHCC is my primary point of management and referral.
I am followed by a Gastroenterologist and have taken two different PPI's (proton pump inhibitors). However, I was experiencing increasing issues with gastric reflux including waking up coughing at night, perpetual burning in the back of my throat, swallowing variances and even some vocal/voice changes. He has followed the progress of my disease and decided that another Endoscopy was indicated. Immediate results prior to biopsy path report was that I had actual esophageal ulcers in the lower one-third of my esophagus that also extended into my stomach. The current PPI regimen had apparently been rendered ineffective by the disease process. Due to the progression and severity of the disease process, the Gastroenterologist prescribed a much newer (and more expensive) PPI - Dexilant. I was given samples, used them, and knew they had a life changing impact on my life…almost immediately. Sometimes you don't even know how bad you feel until something almost entirely relieves the symptoms. It is with this fact that a wonderful nurse made a difference in my life.
As I worked through the system to obtain this medication, I found that it would not be authorized until a failure of all other PPI's had been proven. I made an appointment to discuss with the Doctor. While this may not seem unusual at this point, please know that my husband and I had planned a 14 day cruise to Iceland and we were leaving in five days. Yes, cruises can be delayed and rescheduled, but this event was in celebration of our 35 years of marriage. It had been planned for over one year and something we were so looking forward too. However, at this point, my GI reflux had grown so significant (even after significant diet changes and compliance with past PPI's), that it would have been difficult to make this "dream come true" without the medication.
In concert with Dr. B, Kristen Frey, RN, BSN came to my rescue! She immediately heard the circumstances around the visit, understood my history and the disease process involved. She was compassionate, kind and professional, working to help me meet my hopes and dreams for the preplanned cruise. She worked with her pharmacy contacts in an attempt to side-step a need to trial one last PPI before authorizing the Dexilant. However, she was not successful. So, she worked with Dr. B to establish a plan to quickly prescribe the final PPI. Knowing it would fail, they immediately placed me on the final PPI. My GI symptoms worsened dramatically in the next 24-48 hours. With that, they were quickly able to document failure of the final PPI and the Dexilant was prescribed and issued. Above and beyond, Kristen had researched optional ways (including costs) to obtain this medication should the "plan" not meet our timeframe requirements using the Tricare system available to us. She consistently exuded kindness and compassion to a situation that certainly was no emergency to her, yet she chose to help me meet what some might deem a selfish goal.
Kristen embodies the art and science of nursing. I know that I was not her only patient, only issue, only crisis, only special circumstance that day. Yet, I felt like I was.
Kristen—Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I thank God for your gifts and want you to know that you were my angel…that day, that time…a time important to me! God Bless You and the work you do! Thank you for doing God's work.