We had a patient who was in the ICU for almost 8 weeks. Myarka took care of this patient for almost all of her shifts. She not only cared for him but his wife. He was on the vent and then had to have a trach due to many complications. The family called me (ICU Director) and asked if they could come see Myarka before his doctor’s appointment.

The patient wanted to recognize Myarka for the amazing care she gave. He could not remember her but could describe her voice to a T and wanted to see the face to the voice. He said one shift he felt very depressed and he was trying to explain how he felt but couldn’t talk because of the trach. Myarka stayed there with him and then she moved him to a new room with a window and helped him up to the chair. She took the time and I credit her for getting me over the hump.

The patient’s wife wanted to thank Myarka for always explaining things to me and never seeming too busy. "If we could have had her every shift that would have been our preference.” This patient left LSMC to an Acute Care Facility unable to walk. He was able to walk up and hug her weeks later. LSMC is fortunate to have such an empathetic and amazing nurse as Myarka working in our Intensive Care Unit where many nurses work so hard without the patients remembering them.