This event took place a couple of months ago, but every time I think about what happened that day, I get emotional and appreciative of the quality of people at WKBH. A couple of months ago, a caller called West Kendall Baptist Hospital’s main line at our ED department. The caller seemed distraught, voiced a plan, and stated she has multiple Xanax on hand. She was “ready to take her life away and end it all”. The call was initially taken by the unit secretary as an incoming call. The unit secretary forwarded the call to Marta.

When Marta received this call, she stopped all she was doing to pay full attention to the caller’s needs via phone, showing her dedication and commitment to this caller. Marta recognized the caller as depressed, emotional, and someone who clearly wanted to give up. When Marta realized the severity of what was happening and that the caller needed immediate help, she took action. She handed the phone to the unit secretary and instructed her to keep the caller distracted and on the phone as much as possible. As long as the caller was talking to us, we knew she was okay.

Marta, at the same time, was calling and informing the Miami Dade Police Department of this cry for help. Marta pleaded with Police Department to please go to the caller’s home to prevent a suicide event. When police reached the patient’s home, the patient was offered to be taken to Kendall Regional Hospital. The patient refused to go to any other facility and demanded to be taken to WKBH because she states “Marta was already waiting for her at WKBH”. Miami Dade Police released the patient knowing that patient will come to WKBH with the help of a neighbor.

The leader of this department was in the waiting room when this caller came in and became our patient. The patient came in and Marta welcomed the patient with a huge hug and a shoulder to cry on. Marta’s compassion and caring for this patient were admirable. What I saw, this nurse’s impact, assertiveness, while being kind and gentle to the situation at hand, made me absolutely speechless. The patient was sobbing on Marta’s shoulder and truly found comfort in Marta from her previous call for help.

The patient was quickly evaluated by the physician with help from Marta, and she was Baker acted immediately due to the intent to take her life. After the patient was medically cleared, this patient was safely transferred to a psychiatric unit as per protocol.

I truly believe we have great people at WKBH. Marta was a true patient advocate and saved her life during this patient’s darkest time. On this Sunday, a life was saved by these competent, giving, professionals. Marta Madrazo, RN, embodies the nursing profession- serving her patients, advocating, recognizing the cry for help, and potentially saving a life. With all that is going on, the rise in depression and mental health, Marta was in the right place at the right time and was exactly what this patient needed to still be here alive and well.