Laura Murphy
November 2021
Laura
Murphy
,
BSN, RN
Cardiac Cath Lab
Cone Health Moses Cone Hospital
Greensboro
,
NC
United States
Laura changed the entire tone of that day from desperation to hope.
I am writing this on behalf of my mother and father. I am also an employee of Cone Health. My father was brought in emergently with a heart attack at the end of September. With COVID and Cath Lab visiting restrictions it was heartbreaking to not be able to have family with my family while he was in crisis.
After holding the ED overnight, my father was taken to the Cath Lab the next morning. My mother received an urgent call from someone that my father was in need of emergent open-heart surgery and she needed to go immediately to the Cath Lab to sign a permit. Frantic and lost, I escorted her upstairs to the waiting area. We were unable to find anyone and even went into a nearby nursing unit to ask where we should go. Laura happened to be walking down the hallway, saw our distress and stopped to help. She ended up being my father's nurse that day. Not only did she calm us regarding my father's status, but Laura was also the embodiment of compassion and empathy to my father and us.
He ended up being held in the Cath lab that day for another procedure. My mother and I sat in that waiting area for over 14 hours that day unable to be by his side. Laura cared for my father and joked with him, she came out to update us and let us know what was happening and made sure that my mother got to see him briefly before he had to go back in for a balloon pump insertion as he was not doing well. Laura came out to let us know what was happening when she had a moment and before she left for the day, she came by to say goodbye and wish us well.
In addition, the Cath lab is near the cardiac ICU units where my father stayed for several weeks. Laura saw my mother on occasion and even assisted in helping her to find my father when he was transferred into the step-down unit. I can honestly say that she was a bright spot for my family, and I will never forget her small acts of kindness. From making my father laugh, sharing information regarding his status, to bringing my mother some mints because she is diabetic and she wanted her to have them in her pocket. She changed the entire tone of that day from desperation to hope and her confidence and empathy gave me hope in a moment when I thought I was losing my dad. I can never thank her enough.
After holding the ED overnight, my father was taken to the Cath Lab the next morning. My mother received an urgent call from someone that my father was in need of emergent open-heart surgery and she needed to go immediately to the Cath Lab to sign a permit. Frantic and lost, I escorted her upstairs to the waiting area. We were unable to find anyone and even went into a nearby nursing unit to ask where we should go. Laura happened to be walking down the hallway, saw our distress and stopped to help. She ended up being my father's nurse that day. Not only did she calm us regarding my father's status, but Laura was also the embodiment of compassion and empathy to my father and us.
He ended up being held in the Cath lab that day for another procedure. My mother and I sat in that waiting area for over 14 hours that day unable to be by his side. Laura cared for my father and joked with him, she came out to update us and let us know what was happening and made sure that my mother got to see him briefly before he had to go back in for a balloon pump insertion as he was not doing well. Laura came out to let us know what was happening when she had a moment and before she left for the day, she came by to say goodbye and wish us well.
In addition, the Cath lab is near the cardiac ICU units where my father stayed for several weeks. Laura saw my mother on occasion and even assisted in helping her to find my father when he was transferred into the step-down unit. I can honestly say that she was a bright spot for my family, and I will never forget her small acts of kindness. From making my father laugh, sharing information regarding his status, to bringing my mother some mints because she is diabetic and she wanted her to have them in her pocket. She changed the entire tone of that day from desperation to hope and her confidence and empathy gave me hope in a moment when I thought I was losing my dad. I can never thank her enough.