It was an unfortunate evening when I discovered that my toddler had wiggled a popcorn kernel up her nose and I absolutely could not get it out. After a trip to Urgent Care and a long wait in the ER, we were headed to the OR for an emergency removal at 2 am. This was absolutely not the evening I imagined just before bathtime or even as we waited at Urgent Care. To say that my heart and brain were spinning miles a minute is an understatement.

Once the surgeon arrived and a plan was formulated, we were whisked to the pre-op area. During our prep time, Pam walked through the door. The OR was already on its third case for the night, and they needed reinforcements. What a relief it was to see such a friendly and familiar face. I have had the pleasure of knowing Pam professionally and personally for a number of years and I knew just having her around was going to be a help to not only the team but myself. She came over and began to commiserate with us about the unfortunate situation we were in. She jumped right into action prepping our daughter for the procedure and getting all of the ducks in a row – working cooperatively with her weary coworkers to be a support in whatever way she could. When it came time to insert an IV, things escalated as this is not the easiest thing to accomplish with a sleep-deprived and hungry 2-year-old, reasonably so. After the third attempt, the IV was placed, many tears were shed from a number of us, and her “Prayer Bear,” a stuffed animal from home, was a casualty now splattered with blood. I was oblivious to Prayer Bear’s status, but Pam was not. After my daughter’s line was secured, she whisked him away and returned him good as new with the fresh scent of rubbing alcohol.

I carried my daughter as far back as they would let me and handed her over to the anesthesia provider. Needless to say, this was incredibly difficult for both of us. As I turned around and walked away, I completely lost it, and Pam was right there. She held me until I could gain some semblance of composure to walk to the waiting room. After the procedure was finished and we could go back to post-op area, there was Pam, sitting right beside her. She had pulled up a bedside table to the edge of our daughter’s bed to do her work while keeping a very attentive eye on her. I remember the immense feeling of worry dissolve when I saw that Pam had been right beside her with a smile on her face. It was the middle of the night; she had been awoken from a sleep, and yet here she was, ready and happy to care for our girl. I will never forget the extraordinary kindness, care, and attention Pam provided to me, my husband, and our daughter. Pam is an Extraordinary Nurse with an absolute heart of gold and I could not be anymore grateful that she chooses to share those gifts with our community. Thank you, Pam. 

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A coworker mentioned to Pam that he was not feeling well. She promptly took a blood pressure, which was elevated. He complained further about chest discomfort and stated, "I think I pulled a muscle." After placing him on a heart monitor, she noticed he had ST elevation. She became adamant that he needed to go to the ER. He was very hesitant to take this advice so she sent the clinician for a stretcher. Meanwhile, he went unresponsive and into VT. She was able to quickly get help. The resuscitative measures were successful, and he was promptly taken to the ER for continued treatment. Her quick response and observation saved his life.