I was a patient in the ICU for a week. During that time, Megan Wilcox was my primary nurse. I did not know where I was or what was going on during the first 4 days, but she was consistent every day in introducing herself and talking to me. It felt like she was the only one who talked to me, but I was deeply sedated and very confused and scared. My mind was playing tricks on me and I thought that I had been kidnapped and was being drugged and slowly killed. I didn't trust Meg but she was the one who was taking care of me, so I leaned on her during that time.
The day came and my mind decided to fight off the people around me because I was afraid of them. When my breathing tube was removed, I fought physically, and Meg was the one who was assaulted by me. When I awakened again, I was tied down and she came into the room and without any judgment or resentment, she was again consistent, friendly and nurturing. She introduced herself and explained to me that they were weaning me off the heavy medication that I had been under. She asked me to trust her and know that she was not there to harm me but to help me. At that moment, I decided to trust.
After that, my recovery was dependent upon my ability to fight the infection within me and to breathe and stay strong and listen to the doctors and nurses. She gave me daily strength in her beautiful words of encouragement, she told me that I was a fighter and stronger than I gave myself credit for. She said to draw upon whatever I had within me to make myself mentally strong and I did even though at times it was painful and difficult. She took the time to talk to me about my faith, family and myself. I felt valued by her. I prayed and I fought and she was behind me the whole way. She was attentive to my every need. She even sensed things were amiss when I didn't say anything, she never wavered in her attitude, her encouragement and even when her job didn't seem fun (cleaning me up after messes), she never complained at all and would smile and say "it's my job and I'm happy to make you feel better".
I have to admit that leaving the ICU and leaving Meg made me cry because I came out of all of this with a little bit of anxiety and Meg eased my mind, helped me to believe that I could beat this and achieve these daily goals that were set and accomplished. I felt like God sent me an angel here on earth and her name is Nurse Meg and she is amazing and organized and caring and responsive. I have never met anyone like her and I appreciate every single thing that she did to help me recuperate and I wished that there were more people like her in this word. Thank you, Meg! Miss you and I am home!