I met Rachel over the summer while playing beach volleyball at Sandbar here in Dallas. While I was playing, I went to hit the ball over my head and dislocated my shoulder in the process. To provide a bit of background, I've had this happen to me before, but this time was different as I was not able to get my shoulder back in place as I normally would. As I fell to the ground, I sat there unable to move, holding my arm and in shock as to what had happened. My teammates gathered around me and asked if I needed help and if I needed to go to the hospital. As I sat on the ground in pain, the employees at Sandbar paged for a nurse or a doctor over the intercom to see if there was anyone who could help me. That is when I met Rachel.
Rachel was quick to respond to the call, and she immediately came over to the court where I was playing to see how she could help. Meanwhile, an ambulance had been called to assist and check on me. Rachel grabbed her own beach towel and fashioned it into a sling around my shoulder so I could have some relief. Soon the medical responders arrived, suggesting I head to an Urgent Care or Emergency Room. I refused the ride that they had offered to the closest hospital, as they mentioned they had seen a long wait time earlier in the day. As this was a non-emergency, a few of my teammates had offered to bring me to the hospital instead. Rachel quickly let me know that she could take me to her work and assured me that I would be able to be seen quickly by someone who could help. To me, this was so comforting knowing that I would be going to the hospital by their own employee, who was familiar with everyone and everything there. She picked up her phone and called through to Urgent Care, and let them know of the situation, and that we would be arriving soon.
As I agree to let Rachel take me to Parkland Urgent Care, she assisted me in walking to her car, as I was in pain and having a hard time getting around. En route to the hospital, she offered to make phone calls to my friends on my behalf, letting them know of my situation. When we arrived at Urgent Care, she pulled right up and ran inside to grab a wheelchair for me. She wheeled me into the Urgent Care center, helped me get checked in, and waited with me as I was triaged. As I sat there waiting to hear next steps in regards to a procedure, Rachel was helping the triage nurse in any way she could. As I sat there in pain, her help did not go unnoticed as she did absolutely everything she could to help make me comfortable. Whether that was running out to get supplies, prepping for the worse as I mentioned I was getting nauseous, etc., she was such a huge help in moving the process along. My next steps were to be transferred to the Emergency Room, where I would have a reduction on my shoulder to put it back in place. As soon as we received word of the transfer, Rachel again takes it upon herself to wheel me to the ER. When we arrive, she alerts other nurses that she was also an employee of Parkland and could do whatever she could to help out. She sat with me for a very long time in the ER, grabbing warm blankets to help make me comfortable on the bed and asking if I needed anything. She was quick to flag down a nurse if I needed pain medicine, or anything else. Rachel left shortly before my procedure as she was due back at the hospital again in the morning. I could not thank her enough for everything she did for me that evening, as the compassion she showed toward a stranger that day was so appreciated.
The next day, she reached out to me and asked how I was feeling and continued to follow up with me to ask how my follow-up appointment went. It was so thoughtful of her to check in, asking about potential surgery down the road, physical therapy, and even providing other helpful information. For example, how to sign up for MyChart to view updates and appointments. She continues to reach out to me, weeks after the dislocation, to ask how my shoulder is healing up. I cannot tell you how lucky and appreciative I was to have Rachel come into my life on that day and I cannot thank her enough. I do not have any family here in Dallas, and to have her, a complete stranger, yet completely trustworthy, drive me to the hospital and sit with me for hours, was awe-inspiring. It was almost like she was a part of my own family that night, and for that, I, and my parents especially, were so glad she was there with me. It was her night off, and she ended up sacrificing her own time to help a complete stranger. The world needs more people like her in it. If Rachel treats all Parkland patients the way she treated me that night, they are getting the absolute best treatment and service from such a wonderful and caring person.
Parkland is so lucky to have her as a nurse. Thank you again, Rachel!