Rusmea Salah
August 2021
Rusmea
Salah
,
RN, RNC-OB
Labor and Delivery
Advocate Christ Medical Center
Oak Lawn
,
IL
United States
Rusmea told me not to be scared by all the monitors and equipment. She assured me that I was in the best of hands.
I first met Rusmea over the phone. She called me the night before my version procedure. I was at the end of a pregnancy, anxiously awaiting the delivery of my 8th child. My pregnancy had been difficult, occurring in the midst of the Covid pandemic. It was especially trying as we knew our daughter B would be born with Down syndrome as well as a serious congenital heart defect and an abdominal abnormality. Wrapped up with all of these complications, baby B was laying breech. Suffice it to say, my pregnancy at the age of 46 was high risk. And I was frightened. Speaking with Rusmea comforted me. She was my first contact with Labor and Delivery at Advocate Christ Hospital. She gave me clear instructions over the phone and patiently answered my questions. I asked if I would meet her the next day. She told me that she would do her best to be the nurse to accompany me into surgery. I felt a sense of peace as I went to bed, knowing that Rusmea would be there in the morning.
We checked into the hospital at 11:00am. I was scheduled for a version procedure in the hopes of turning B from a breech position. I had two ultrasounds and a number of conversations regarding my situation. The OB was confident in the course of action, putting the chances of a successful procedure at 60% and the risks of an emergency C-section at 1%. I was the 1%. I met Rusmea several hours later as she came to escort me to surgery. I was overwhelmed with joy to meet her and thanked her for keeping her promise to accompany me. She provided continuity to a scary situation. Her confident presence gave me courage. She helped me off the bed, put her hand on my shoulder, and told me it was time to go. As we walked from the triage area to the operating room, Rusmea tried to prepare me for what I was about to see. She told me not to be scared by all the monitors and equipment. She assured me that I was in the best of hands. I told myself to be brave. My courage lasted a brief moment, evaporating as tears came streaming down my face. It was overwhelming. And I was alone.
Sensing my growing apprehension, Rusmea asked if I would like to hear some music. I requested something classical. Within moments, Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata” was playing over the speakers. As I climbed up to the operating table. Rusmea put her hands on my shoulders and whispered in my ear, "I will be silently praying in Arabic for all to go well." The fact that Rusmea spoke Arabic gave me incredible comfort. It was my sign that all would be well. As the spinal was administered, I began to feel pain. Rusmea spoke soft words of encouragement and her strong arms kept me motionless. After the solid placement of the line, she helped me to lay down.
Suddenly, my blood pressure dropped to a dangerously low level and the OR team worked to elevate this pressure. They were able to stabilize me, but baby B with her serious heart defect, was not able to recover. I heard the word “crash”. Then the word “go”. Organized chaos erupted all around me. I don’t remember much after this moment, but I do know that Rusmea was in charge of the operating room. Her calm command of the situation and all the medical personnel pouring into the room prevented a tragedy that day. The diligent work of an OR nurse is usually hidden from a patient. I couldn't see what she did, but her nursing skill and competence made a difference in the outcome. In a very real way, I owe her my life and the life of my child.
We checked into the hospital at 11:00am. I was scheduled for a version procedure in the hopes of turning B from a breech position. I had two ultrasounds and a number of conversations regarding my situation. The OB was confident in the course of action, putting the chances of a successful procedure at 60% and the risks of an emergency C-section at 1%. I was the 1%. I met Rusmea several hours later as she came to escort me to surgery. I was overwhelmed with joy to meet her and thanked her for keeping her promise to accompany me. She provided continuity to a scary situation. Her confident presence gave me courage. She helped me off the bed, put her hand on my shoulder, and told me it was time to go. As we walked from the triage area to the operating room, Rusmea tried to prepare me for what I was about to see. She told me not to be scared by all the monitors and equipment. She assured me that I was in the best of hands. I told myself to be brave. My courage lasted a brief moment, evaporating as tears came streaming down my face. It was overwhelming. And I was alone.
Sensing my growing apprehension, Rusmea asked if I would like to hear some music. I requested something classical. Within moments, Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata” was playing over the speakers. As I climbed up to the operating table. Rusmea put her hands on my shoulders and whispered in my ear, "I will be silently praying in Arabic for all to go well." The fact that Rusmea spoke Arabic gave me incredible comfort. It was my sign that all would be well. As the spinal was administered, I began to feel pain. Rusmea spoke soft words of encouragement and her strong arms kept me motionless. After the solid placement of the line, she helped me to lay down.
Suddenly, my blood pressure dropped to a dangerously low level and the OR team worked to elevate this pressure. They were able to stabilize me, but baby B with her serious heart defect, was not able to recover. I heard the word “crash”. Then the word “go”. Organized chaos erupted all around me. I don’t remember much after this moment, but I do know that Rusmea was in charge of the operating room. Her calm command of the situation and all the medical personnel pouring into the room prevented a tragedy that day. The diligent work of an OR nurse is usually hidden from a patient. I couldn't see what she did, but her nursing skill and competence made a difference in the outcome. In a very real way, I owe her my life and the life of my child.