May 2018
Mary
Riddle
,
RN
ICU
Aurora BayCare Medical Center
Green Bay
,
WI
United States
Mary Lee was the last person to hold my grandmother's hand. On Sunday my Grandma drove herself to church and had a rather normal day. However, on Monday the cleaning lady noticed my grandma looked blue and called an ambulance which took her to Aurora BayCare where tests were run and she was promptly admitted to the ICU where Mary Lee would graciously take care of my grandma.
My aunt had just flown out on Saturday to see my uncle in California and I was in Milwaukee at my brothers for an early morning flight the following day. Mary Lee kept my aunt and uncle informed with what was going on with my grandma and after three drops failed to bring her blood pressure up among countless other issues, they made the selfless decision to let my grandmother die peacefully instead of intubating and sedating her.
I work in an ICU in Madison and see these decisions made almost every day I work, as hard as it is to make it, especially when loved ones are not present, is one of the hardest things to do. My grandmother got to hear her children say, "I Love You" one more time because Mary Lee held the phone up to her ear to do so.
Mary Lee stayed with my grandmother during these last few hours of her life. Believe me when I say we all would have been there but are incredibly grateful that since we didn't make it in time that my grandma had Mary Lee by her side.
Sometimes angels don't wear wings, this nurse was definitely an angel in disguise and for that my family and I are incredibly grateful!
My aunt had just flown out on Saturday to see my uncle in California and I was in Milwaukee at my brothers for an early morning flight the following day. Mary Lee kept my aunt and uncle informed with what was going on with my grandma and after three drops failed to bring her blood pressure up among countless other issues, they made the selfless decision to let my grandmother die peacefully instead of intubating and sedating her.
I work in an ICU in Madison and see these decisions made almost every day I work, as hard as it is to make it, especially when loved ones are not present, is one of the hardest things to do. My grandmother got to hear her children say, "I Love You" one more time because Mary Lee held the phone up to her ear to do so.
Mary Lee stayed with my grandmother during these last few hours of her life. Believe me when I say we all would have been there but are incredibly grateful that since we didn't make it in time that my grandma had Mary Lee by her side.
Sometimes angels don't wear wings, this nurse was definitely an angel in disguise and for that my family and I are incredibly grateful!