Mackenzie D Merritt
December 2022
Mackenzie D
Merritt
,
RN
Med/Surg
Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville
Madisonville
,
KY
United States
Mackenzie recognized her decline and helped us advocate for her to have a CT scan to check for a stroke, which she was later diagnosed with.
My aunt was very ill and in need of two organ transplants. She had been found unconscious, brought to the hospital, and admitted to ICU on a ventilator. After one week, a miracle happened, and she finally began to wake up. We were told that the residuals of what occurred were what was causing her to have extreme weakness, unable to move her body, and very poor speech. After another week she was not getting stronger and her speech was gone. Completely unable to communicate, Mackenzie stepped in and supplied us with printouts of letters so that my aunt could spell out words to tell us what she needed. Two weeks prior my aunt was cooking, cleaning, and playing with her dog and grandchildren to now being unable to move or speak, but understands everything. Mackenzie recognized her decline and helped us advocate for her to have a CT scan to check for a stroke, which she was later diagnosed with. I want to thank Mackenzie for her compassion and for going the extra mile in her care. Without this, I’m not sure where she would be and because of this and our Lord, she is improving and getting stronger!
***
Mackenzie was on her way to work when she passed a car that was off the road and stopped to offer assistance. The driver was stuck inside, yelling for help. Little did Mackenzie know, the driver had been there for 45 minutes in 30-degree weather. Mackenzie called 911 and stayed with them until help arrived, even using items from her own car to try and keep the driver as warm as she could. When EMS arrived, the driver was brought to our Emergency Department. The patient was found to have multiple injuries that left them paralyzed from the neck down. If it were not for Mackenzie stopping to help, the patient had no way to get to a cell phone or pull themselves out of the vehicle and could have had a bad outcome.
It is nurses like Mackenzie who help make our hospital a safe place for our patients and a solid foundation for our community. She truly saved a life that day and exemplified what a nurse is. Thank you, Mackenzie, for all you do!
***
Mackenzie was on her way to work when she passed a car that was off the road and stopped to offer assistance. The driver was stuck inside, yelling for help. Little did Mackenzie know, the driver had been there for 45 minutes in 30-degree weather. Mackenzie called 911 and stayed with them until help arrived, even using items from her own car to try and keep the driver as warm as she could. When EMS arrived, the driver was brought to our Emergency Department. The patient was found to have multiple injuries that left them paralyzed from the neck down. If it were not for Mackenzie stopping to help, the patient had no way to get to a cell phone or pull themselves out of the vehicle and could have had a bad outcome.
It is nurses like Mackenzie who help make our hospital a safe place for our patients and a solid foundation for our community. She truly saved a life that day and exemplified what a nurse is. Thank you, Mackenzie, for all you do!