MICU Team
May 2020
Micu
Center
Medical Intensive Care Unit
Grandview Medical Center
Birmingham
,
AL
United States
Abby Blackwood RN,
Abigail Granade RN,
Allison A. Montz RN,
Allison R. Harrell RN,
Anna D. Blackwood RN,
Beverly D. Pullum RN,
Brianna Hicks RN,
Candace Henderson RN,
Carolina Willingham RN,
Cassidy L. Pate RN,
Catherine D. Carter RN,
Christina M. Mills RN,
Claudia Gilmore RN,
Douglas J. Davis Dir ICU,
Elizabeth P. Simpson RN Charge,
Emily Pyatt RN,
Erica Patterson RN,
Frances E. Brimer RN,
Heidi J. Johnston RN,
Jason M. Smith RN,
Jennifer M. Cook RN,
Jennifer N. Niedermeier RN Charge,
Joshua S. Smith RN,
Kaitlyn Elliott RN,
Kaitlyn E. Washer RN,
Kasee Lambert RN,
Kayla Davenport RN,
Kenya T. Taylor RN,
Lillian E. Mimbs RN,
Lorri Mckelvey RN,
Louise A. Brock RN,
Mallory N. Yarbrough RN,
Matthew W. Fears RN,
Meagan C. Aderhold RN,
Payton Vintson RN,
Roderick D. Steele RN,
Samantha B. Stewart RN,
Sarah Frazier RN,
Sarah M. Fricke RN,
Shelby L. Rutledge RN,
Sonya L. Hahn RN Charge,
Tori L. Davis RN,
Tyler Hoyt RN,
Vernon Furlow I RN
Abigail Granade RN,
Allison A. Montz RN,
Allison R. Harrell RN,
Anna D. Blackwood RN,
Beverly D. Pullum RN,
Brianna Hicks RN,
Candace Henderson RN,
Carolina Willingham RN,
Cassidy L. Pate RN,
Catherine D. Carter RN,
Christina M. Mills RN,
Claudia Gilmore RN,
Douglas J. Davis Dir ICU,
Elizabeth P. Simpson RN Charge,
Emily Pyatt RN,
Erica Patterson RN,
Frances E. Brimer RN,
Heidi J. Johnston RN,
Jason M. Smith RN,
Jennifer M. Cook RN,
Jennifer N. Niedermeier RN Charge,
Joshua S. Smith RN,
Kaitlyn Elliott RN,
Kaitlyn E. Washer RN,
Kasee Lambert RN,
Kayla Davenport RN,
Kenya T. Taylor RN,
Lillian E. Mimbs RN,
Lorri Mckelvey RN,
Louise A. Brock RN,
Mallory N. Yarbrough RN,
Matthew W. Fears RN,
Meagan C. Aderhold RN,
Payton Vintson RN,
Roderick D. Steele RN,
Samantha B. Stewart RN,
Sarah Frazier RN,
Sarah M. Fricke RN,
Shelby L. Rutledge RN,
Sonya L. Hahn RN Charge,
Tori L. Davis RN,
Tyler Hoyt RN,
Vernon Furlow I RN
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the MICU team has been steady and resilient. Despite everything that has been thrown at them, they continue to return to work day and night to answer the call. They are providing clinical excellence, delivered with care and compassion even through this unprecedented time. Each team member has gone above and beyond, putting their own fears and anxieties aside.
Personally, my family benefited from the compassion and excellence of the MICU team when my grandmother was a patient for 10 days in May as she battled COVID-19. The care Ms. C (AKA my Grand) received was unparalleled. Every physician and nurse who cared for her went above and beyond to brighten her days. From Lilli taking the time to set up Grand's favorite Catholic podcasts...to Sonya choosing to work 5 five nights in a row with her (which is a true miracle because she was not the easiest patient)...to Emily who calmed my mom and communicated with her brilliantly during a particularly challenging night...to Abby...to Kasee...to Doug... every single nurse was exceptional.
During this pandemic with restricted visitation, these nurses served not only as Grand's care providers but also her friends, her support system, and her family. My mom and I asked repeatedly for all of them to limit their time in her room in order to decrease their own exposure risk, and not one nurse ever accepted our offer. Over and over again they donned all their PPE and entered Grand's room to sit with her, to feed her, to calm her, to read the countless text messages and videos sent to her by my 10,000 family members, to remind her to put her oxygen mask back on for the hundredth time that hour, or to simply hold her hand; you name it, and they did it.
This level of care and concern extended to the physicians as well. Dr. Amin was the Hospitalist in charge of Grand for the majority of her stay. Through his frequent communication and attention to detail, he made us feel like Grand was his only patient. Over the course of seven days he spent hours on the phone with my mom and me talking through every test, medication, and treatment option, and he talked to us like his friends rather than his patient's family members who asked far too many questions. We are so grateful for physicians like him and his wife (who is doing the same thing at UAB), and the entire team of Hospitalists here at Grandview who give so much of themselves to fighting this pandemic.
On the day she died, Kayla was Grand's nurse, and she was extraordinary. Kayla carried out my grandmother's wishes to the letter. Before enacting comfort care measures, Kayla arranged for Grand's Catholic priest from her home church in Mobile to provide a final blessing over the phone. She remained in the room to allow Grand's sister, two daughters, and me to FaceTime and speak with her one last time. Kayla and Kasee then tag-teamed and battled technology (and WON!!) in order to ensure my mom and I were both present via FaceTime for the final few hours of Grand's life. I'll never forget when Kayla entered the room for Grand's last few minutes on Earth, took her hand when we could not, and said, "Let's rejoice, she's entering the gates the Heaven!" I will never forget those words and the way Kayla infused God's peace and joy into a very difficult moment. Kayla's actions and those of every MICU team member exemplify what it means to be on the frontlines. They exemplify living out nursing as a calling rather than a job. They exemplify healthcare at its best during times that are the absolute worst.
In closing, my Grand called me on one of her first nights in MICU to tell me how ready she was to go to Heaven. She informed me (in her slightly confused state) that she was already on her way to meet Jesus and that everything was so beautiful, but she did not expect all the angels to be wearing beekeeper suits. She viewed all of you as her angels, and my family and I couldn't agree more. I will be a better nurse and better human having experienced the kindness of the MICU Team. Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it. My family and I are forever grateful and forever changed by our experience in the MICU. God bless each and every one of you. You will remain in our prayers.
Personally, my family benefited from the compassion and excellence of the MICU team when my grandmother was a patient for 10 days in May as she battled COVID-19. The care Ms. C (AKA my Grand) received was unparalleled. Every physician and nurse who cared for her went above and beyond to brighten her days. From Lilli taking the time to set up Grand's favorite Catholic podcasts...to Sonya choosing to work 5 five nights in a row with her (which is a true miracle because she was not the easiest patient)...to Emily who calmed my mom and communicated with her brilliantly during a particularly challenging night...to Abby...to Kasee...to Doug... every single nurse was exceptional.
During this pandemic with restricted visitation, these nurses served not only as Grand's care providers but also her friends, her support system, and her family. My mom and I asked repeatedly for all of them to limit their time in her room in order to decrease their own exposure risk, and not one nurse ever accepted our offer. Over and over again they donned all their PPE and entered Grand's room to sit with her, to feed her, to calm her, to read the countless text messages and videos sent to her by my 10,000 family members, to remind her to put her oxygen mask back on for the hundredth time that hour, or to simply hold her hand; you name it, and they did it.
This level of care and concern extended to the physicians as well. Dr. Amin was the Hospitalist in charge of Grand for the majority of her stay. Through his frequent communication and attention to detail, he made us feel like Grand was his only patient. Over the course of seven days he spent hours on the phone with my mom and me talking through every test, medication, and treatment option, and he talked to us like his friends rather than his patient's family members who asked far too many questions. We are so grateful for physicians like him and his wife (who is doing the same thing at UAB), and the entire team of Hospitalists here at Grandview who give so much of themselves to fighting this pandemic.
On the day she died, Kayla was Grand's nurse, and she was extraordinary. Kayla carried out my grandmother's wishes to the letter. Before enacting comfort care measures, Kayla arranged for Grand's Catholic priest from her home church in Mobile to provide a final blessing over the phone. She remained in the room to allow Grand's sister, two daughters, and me to FaceTime and speak with her one last time. Kayla and Kasee then tag-teamed and battled technology (and WON!!) in order to ensure my mom and I were both present via FaceTime for the final few hours of Grand's life. I'll never forget when Kayla entered the room for Grand's last few minutes on Earth, took her hand when we could not, and said, "Let's rejoice, she's entering the gates the Heaven!" I will never forget those words and the way Kayla infused God's peace and joy into a very difficult moment. Kayla's actions and those of every MICU team member exemplify what it means to be on the frontlines. They exemplify living out nursing as a calling rather than a job. They exemplify healthcare at its best during times that are the absolute worst.
In closing, my Grand called me on one of her first nights in MICU to tell me how ready she was to go to Heaven. She informed me (in her slightly confused state) that she was already on her way to meet Jesus and that everything was so beautiful, but she did not expect all the angels to be wearing beekeeper suits. She viewed all of you as her angels, and my family and I couldn't agree more. I will be a better nurse and better human having experienced the kindness of the MICU Team. Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it. My family and I are forever grateful and forever changed by our experience in the MICU. God bless each and every one of you. You will remain in our prayers.