Nika Hudson
October 2021
Nika
Hudson
,
BSN, RN
3 South/Joint Replacement Unit
Ascension St. Vincent Anderson
Anderson
,
IN
United States
Over the next several hours Nika and I emailed, texted, and spoke by phone. I never felt alone. It was as if Nika knew exactly how we felt and she wasn't going to leave us wondering what was happening back home.
In August a mother/daughter vacation to Mexico turned into a nightmare. My sister and I found ourselves in the ED of a Mexican hospital being told that our 74-year-old mother had a broken hip. Mom was in severe pain and needed surgery quickly. Although the doctors at the private hospital were wonderful to us and treated mom with great care, we needed to get mom back home and to St. Vincent Anderson soon. Mom was unable to safely travel and after hours and hours of researching, calling, emailing, texting, my sister and I were at a loss. We are the "fixers" in our family, so this was a very unusual and unfamiliar feeling for us.
Some wonderful benefactors secured an air ambulance for us. We could have Mom on a medical plane the very next day, landing in Indianapolis, and arriving at St. Vincent Anderson, but the air ambulance company had a requirement....a direct admit to the Anderson hospital would have to be secured ahead of time, and confirmed by the company. We tried everything. We spoke to St. Vincent Anderson's ED, Ascension's transport department, and the hospitalist. We called her PCP and her orthopedic doctor. Everyone was very willing to help, they just didn't know how to make it happen with someone arriving internationally.
At 2:30 am I emailed the CNO. She responded that she would ask for Nika Hudson's help. For the first time in hours, a sense of peace came over me. I knew we would be in good hands. I knew if there was a way, Nika would find it. Over the next several hours Nika and I emailed, texted, and spoke by phone. I never felt alone. It was as if Nika knew exactly how we felt and she wasn't going to leave us wondering what was happening back home. At the moment we were being loaded into the air ambulance, and just before the cabin door shut, my phone rang. Nika called to tell me that mom was being directly admitted to a room. I cried. I had no idea what all was happening behind the scene, or all the effort Nika had to put into it, I just know it happened. My mom was going to be ok.
Once we arrived at St. Vincent Anderson, everything happened like Nika said it would. Mom was taken directly to her room and her care and comfort started immediately, and Nika checked in on us. Mom had surgery the following day and her physical therapy began. She was eventually admitted to rehab and again, Nika came to visit.
Mom is home now and continues with outpatient therapy and is looking forward to getting rid of the walker. This trip taught us a lot! ALWAYS purchase travel insurance, listen to your gut instinct, most people are good, kind, and caring at their core, and never leave home without Nika on speed dial.
Some wonderful benefactors secured an air ambulance for us. We could have Mom on a medical plane the very next day, landing in Indianapolis, and arriving at St. Vincent Anderson, but the air ambulance company had a requirement....a direct admit to the Anderson hospital would have to be secured ahead of time, and confirmed by the company. We tried everything. We spoke to St. Vincent Anderson's ED, Ascension's transport department, and the hospitalist. We called her PCP and her orthopedic doctor. Everyone was very willing to help, they just didn't know how to make it happen with someone arriving internationally.
At 2:30 am I emailed the CNO. She responded that she would ask for Nika Hudson's help. For the first time in hours, a sense of peace came over me. I knew we would be in good hands. I knew if there was a way, Nika would find it. Over the next several hours Nika and I emailed, texted, and spoke by phone. I never felt alone. It was as if Nika knew exactly how we felt and she wasn't going to leave us wondering what was happening back home. At the moment we were being loaded into the air ambulance, and just before the cabin door shut, my phone rang. Nika called to tell me that mom was being directly admitted to a room. I cried. I had no idea what all was happening behind the scene, or all the effort Nika had to put into it, I just know it happened. My mom was going to be ok.
Once we arrived at St. Vincent Anderson, everything happened like Nika said it would. Mom was taken directly to her room and her care and comfort started immediately, and Nika checked in on us. Mom had surgery the following day and her physical therapy began. She was eventually admitted to rehab and again, Nika came to visit.
Mom is home now and continues with outpatient therapy and is looking forward to getting rid of the walker. This trip taught us a lot! ALWAYS purchase travel insurance, listen to your gut instinct, most people are good, kind, and caring at their core, and never leave home without Nika on speed dial.