One of the greatest fears an adult child could ever experience is the loss of a parent. What began as a routine checkup, spiraled into an unforgettable nightmare. An ambulance transported my mother to WellStar Cobb Emergency room from a routine doctor visit, unable to breathe and threatening cardiac arrest.
After a series of tests, she was admitted to undergo further testing the next morning. As a precaution and to make sure my mother received the best care possible, I slept in the chair in the corner of her room.
Since my mother would be discharged the next day, she encouraged me to go home and get some much-needed rest. Something in my gut told me to stay, but with her persistence and my husband tearing me away, I kissed her, while whispering "I love you" then walked out of the room closing the door behind me.
Early in the morning, I received a call from WellStar Cobb Hospital. The voice on the other end identified herself as R, a nurse from WellStar. "Is this F?" she asked. "I'm calling to tell you your mother was found unresponsive and moved to ICU."
"What? What happened? Never mind, I'm on my way," I stated.
I arrived at WellStar Cobb Hospital not knowing what to expect or even if my mother were still alive. As I headed toward the ICU corridor, I glance at the room where I had just kissed my mother a few hours before. The room looked as though a war had taken place and she, unfortunately, became one its wounded. I entered the room in ICU, where my mother appeared lifeless with machines, tubes and nursing staff all around her. Trying to make sense of it all, I stood, numb and helpless. I remember telling my mother, "This is not how your story will end. Breathe, mom, with every breath, I need you to reach for life."
Later that morning, in walked a bright-eyed nurse with overwhelming energy that changed the atmosphere in the room. "Good morning! My name is Lauren. I will be taking care of you today," she said with a beaming smile. I introduced myself as the daughter, we exchanged pleasantries and I sat back and observed her. Lauren moved about the room with such confidence. Every tube she touched, monitor she checked and syringe she filled, she owned it.
After a few moments of observing her in action, I asked, how do you know what needs to be done in caring for my mother? She immediately uttered, "I take the information provided by the doctor, along with any notes from the nurse before me, analyze it and use my best judgment." At that moment, I knew I could trust her with my mom's life.
Lauren looked over at me, stopped what she was doing and explained every piece of equipment in the room. She also offered a brief overview of various indicators to look out for that may put my mom in dangerous territory. Another thing that impressed me about Lauren is that she always called my mother by name before administering medications. Lauren also explained what was being given, how she would administer it and why my mother needed it.
With such high levels of carbon monoxide in my mom's system, this proved the greatest challenge to overcome. Not only did Lauren educate me on the dangers of having such high levels of carbon monoxide, but she also recommended I coach my mother into taking deeper breaths to release the buildup.
When the respiratory therapist decided to meet with our family to discuss next steps, Lauren could have easily taken a break or gone to lunch, but instead, she stood with us. Not as a nurse, but more like a family friend offering support. The options laid out by the respiratory therapist were difficult to swallow. I remember as tears welled in my eyes, Lauren turned and said, "Think of her quality of life. I know it's a difficult decision to make, but at least you and your family can do it together. Most families don't get this opportunity. Take all the time you need before making the final decision." Lauren understood us. She even held my hand as I broke down and cried while swiftly leaving the room to shed a mountain of tears.
For the next 48 hours, I stood at the bedside of my mother, equipped with the knowledge Lauren had shared and fought to nurse my mom back to health. In short, our mother had gone from a possible tube being placed down her throat to possibly inserting a trach directly into her windpipe, to leaving ICU alive.
We believe God places people in our path to give us exactly what we need at the moment. Lauren's confidence, knowledge, and support and genuine love for helping others, empowered us to fight and not give in to the diagnosis. Lauren helped us alter the outcome. Although our mother spent a few days on 6th and 3rd floors, before her discharge she never stopped talking about the great nurse she had in ICU.
Lauren Davison, BSN, RN, is a highly talented, competent nurse that provides the highest level of patient care we've ever experienced. She unselfishly gave of her time and skills with such passion that it literally filled the room with healing energy.
Today, we give God thanks for the bright-eyed nurse that walked into ICU room.
Please find the highest level of recognition a nurse can receive within your organizing to thank such a well deserving nurse as Lauren Davison.