My mother woke up with what she described as the worst headache she had ever had. After Tylenol, and just trying to rest, the headache just became worse. My dad said that she was having a hard time seeing and that she also seemed a little confused. When my mom told him she wanted to come to the hospital, he never questioned her.

Upon arriving at Bronson Hospital, a STAT CT scan revealed a huge bleed in her brain. My mom began to lose consciousness and was dry heaving, so she was taken and immediately intubated to protect her airway. A team of people came in and pulled up the CT scan to explain things further to my dad and me. It felt like we were in a fog, and only heard bits and pieces like, “huge brain bleed,” “Whatever damage could be done has been done,” “not a surgical candidate,” and of course, “not much more we can do.”

Dad and I were devastated and in complete and total shock. We were admitted to the Neuro Critical Care Unit, and this…is where we met Leiah, RN. Leiah immediately attended to my mother to get her admitted and comfortable. She explained everything she was doing, including starting a drip of medication that would hopefully stop the bleeding in my mom’s brain. Even though my mom was intubated, Leiah spoke directly to her and explained everything she was doing to her. My dad is a retired police officer and a US Marine. He would have his moments where he would sob, and then try to cope with bad humor. Leiah bantered back and forth with him while remaining professional at the same time. I liked her immediately. She took time with our family and attended to our needs as well as my mom’s.

My mom received such amazing care from her. It was close to shift change when we were admitted, but Leiah informed us that she would be back the next day, and we were so thankful. It was a very long night for us. People kept coming in to update us on Mom’s status, and a repeat CT scan showed that things were actually worse than before. We were asked about her code status, and trying to keep mom’s wishes in mind and not our own selfish desires, we made her a code2, electing not to do CPR if she were to arrest. Early Tuesday morning, since my mom was, “stable,” I went home to shower and change my clothes. Then, I cried the whole way back to the hospital because I was convinced we would be putting my mom in comfort care and letting her go to Jesus.

I was greeted by Leiah, who told me that she had been thinking about us all night. She told us that Dr. M was here, and that he needed to talk to us about Mom’s condition. Dr. M informed us that he actually re-reviewed my mom’s CT scan, and felt as though she WAS a surgical candidate. He believed that we could actually give mom a quality of life that was acceptable, knowing she might have some minor deficits. Leiah supported us fully in our decision to pursue the surgery and was such a huge advocate for my mom. I have two young children at home, who have a very special relationship with their grandma. Leiah facilitated having Child Life come to see us, and they made thumbprint art with my mom’s thumbs. The music therapist recorded my mom’s heartbeat to put inside a teddy bear for both of my little girls. All of this, just in case she did not survive the surgery. My mom has two sisters who she is very close with, and Leiah recognized the importance of our family being there for support, and “looked in the other direction,” when it came to the visitor policy. All the time, with a smile on her face, still bantering with my dad who never left mom’s side, and talking to my mom with each interaction.

While she was positioning my mom to prevent skin breakdown, I asked her how long she had been a nurse. When she said a little over two years, I was shocked, because I would have thought based on her expertise, it would have been much longer. She was just so professional, kind, compassionate, and wonderful. We just cannot say enough things about her.

My mom had a craniotomy to remove a blood clot the size of a grapefruit from her brain. After the surgery, Leiah got her all tucked back in on the NCCU. She placed signs above the bed notifying staff of the craniotomy so they would know to pay close attention to the left side. She still spoke to my mom with each interaction, made sure she was positioned for comfort to prevent skin breakdown and to make sure my mom was kept clean and dry, treating her with dignity. As shift change came closer, Leiah told us that she had the next four days off. She asked me, if it wasn’t too much trouble, if I would please text her with an update on my mom, and asked me if she could give me her personal phone number. I was just so touched and honored that she asked.

We texted back and forth over the next few days, as much as I hated disturbing her on those precious days off. In addition, she always seemed so genuinely concerned about all of us. We built quite a few relationships with the staff at NCCU over the next few days. On the 5th day, my mom woke up, and she actually spoke a few words. We sobbed tears of joy! Considering they gave us a mortality rate of 97% when she was admitted, we are considering the entire thing to be nothing less than a miracle. I believe in my heart, that if it had not been for Dr. M who re-reviewed the CT scan, and Leiah, RN for advocating for her, my mother would have died. We owe them everything!

On Wednesday, my mother was transferred to Bronson Commons for rehab. Despite a little bit of intermittent expressive aphasia, and needing a PEG tube for supplemental nutrition, I would say we are doing pretty darn amazing. We are hoping to have her go to Mary Free Bed soon, then the ultimate goal of course, is to get her back home. Thank you so much to all of the staff at NCCU. Leiah you are absolutely one in a million. We wish you a long, healthy, blessed career. All of your patients and families are so lucky to have you. You have no idea what a lasting impression you have left on our family. Thank you!!