Margaret Meyers
November 2024
Margaret
Meyers
,
BSN, RN
Intensive Care/Stepdown
Henry Ford St. John Hospital
Detroit
,
MI
United States

 

 

 

She ensured comfort for me as I navigated my decisions, reassuring me that she was there for me and that things would only happen on my time when and when I chose.
My dad went into cardiac arrest and was then put on life support, where he remained for a week. He had just turned 47 and left us all frightened and confused at how sudden it was. I'm a 21-year-old girl in college and his only next of kin.  In a matter of seconds, my life was flipped from having to decide what I wanted for breakfast to having to decide how to honor my father while he had no will and no sound decisions made for himself.  Margret was the breath of fresh air I needed while learning how to navigate these new circumstances. She made sure not a single detail went unnoticed. She put orange vanilla-scented lotion in him after his bath so his skin wouldn't be dry. She made sure that once he was on a feeding tube and was having bowel movements that she made the room smell good by putting coffee grounds under the bed and mint essential oils throughout the room. The mint mocha smell reminded us all of my dad in a manner that was overwhelming. Christmas was his favorite time of year, so the scent was only fitting for him. She made sure to explain everything that was happening as she was doing it or as soon as she was able to, without me having to ask. She ensured comfort for me as I navigated my decisions, reassuring me that she was there for me and that things would only happen on my time when and when I chose. Margaret was his nurse for multiple days during his stay, and not one day did she leave without saying goodbye and asking if she could give me a hug. She would sit and listen to me talk about him and look at pictures with me while I anxiously wanted them to know the amazing father that he is and not just a patient. And that's exactly how she treated him.  She treated my father with care, as I would if I were her, all the way up until we made the decision to pull the plug and let my dad rest. She held our hand while she explained what would happen and allowed us peace of mind. Margaret deserves the DAISY Award and she deserves the world.