Samantha Fisher
April 2024
Samantha
Fisher
,
BSN, RN
9B SICU
Grady Memorial Hospital
Atlanta
,
GA
United States
Samantha explained to Decedent Affairs that they provided post-mortem care, including the Teddy Bear, and explained, "I didn't want C to be alone; I didn't want him to be by himself."
A young African American Male was brought into Grady as a Level 1 activation, gunshot wound to the head.
They were patient at Grady for approximately 7 days. The Trauma Doctors ultimately provided the devasting news to the family regarding his prognosis and would be proceeding with Brain Death Testing. As the patient was a minor child, it was explained two (2) tests, 12 hours apart, would be necessary. The family, with much anticipation and hope, patiently waited for the miracle news of a different outcome. The first test was completed, and the doctor's diagnosis was confirmed. The second test 12 hours later, this Nurse was providing care. The test confirmed this young man, 16 years old, was brain dead. They provided compassionate care and consoled the family through this very difficult time. The family expressed how very grateful they were for the nursing staff and how very thankful they were for a hospital like Grady. The family, after saying goodbye to their son, gathered their belongings and left.
The true story of compassion and purpose happened after everyone left, and no one else was watching. This Nurse, the primary bedside nurse would be the nurse responsible for all of the after-death care. They bathed this young man providing post-mortem care and was preparing him for the Medical Examiner's Office/Morgue when they noticed a teddy bear left behind by the family. They placed the teddy bear in the patient’s hand and closed the bag.
Fast forward two years: This Nurse received a phone call from decedent affairs inquiring about the patient. This Nurse immediately responded with, "Yes, I remember, he and his family made such an impact on me." Decedent Affairs went on to explain that the ME's office reached out to the mother and asked her, "Do you want the teddy bear we found with your son?" The mother, confused, stated, "What are you talking about?" The ME's office further explained upon the arrival of her son to the ME's office, he had a teddy bear in his hand. The mother cried and explained how touched she was at the gesture of someone placing the teddy bear with her son. She reached out to the decedent affairs at Grady to inquire about how she could find out who the nurse was providing care for her son to ask if she gave her son the teddy bear. Decedent Affairs discovered that this Nurse was the last nurse providing care for her son. Decedent Affairs reached out to them and explained the circumstances and the story regarding the teddy bear. The mother wanted to provide her number so she could personally thank the nurse who cared enough. Samantha explained to Decedent Affairs that they provided post-mortem care, including the Teddy Bear, and explained, "I didn't want C to be alone; I didn't want him to be by himself."
This act of kindness, love, and compassion is at the very core of Grady's Values: Be Patient-Centered, Be Safe, Serve Others with Excellence, Do Right, Do Good! I am honored this Nurse works here, I am honored to be a part of their leadership team, and am honored to experience this level of care first-hand.
They were patient at Grady for approximately 7 days. The Trauma Doctors ultimately provided the devasting news to the family regarding his prognosis and would be proceeding with Brain Death Testing. As the patient was a minor child, it was explained two (2) tests, 12 hours apart, would be necessary. The family, with much anticipation and hope, patiently waited for the miracle news of a different outcome. The first test was completed, and the doctor's diagnosis was confirmed. The second test 12 hours later, this Nurse was providing care. The test confirmed this young man, 16 years old, was brain dead. They provided compassionate care and consoled the family through this very difficult time. The family expressed how very grateful they were for the nursing staff and how very thankful they were for a hospital like Grady. The family, after saying goodbye to their son, gathered their belongings and left.
The true story of compassion and purpose happened after everyone left, and no one else was watching. This Nurse, the primary bedside nurse would be the nurse responsible for all of the after-death care. They bathed this young man providing post-mortem care and was preparing him for the Medical Examiner's Office/Morgue when they noticed a teddy bear left behind by the family. They placed the teddy bear in the patient’s hand and closed the bag.
Fast forward two years: This Nurse received a phone call from decedent affairs inquiring about the patient. This Nurse immediately responded with, "Yes, I remember, he and his family made such an impact on me." Decedent Affairs went on to explain that the ME's office reached out to the mother and asked her, "Do you want the teddy bear we found with your son?" The mother, confused, stated, "What are you talking about?" The ME's office further explained upon the arrival of her son to the ME's office, he had a teddy bear in his hand. The mother cried and explained how touched she was at the gesture of someone placing the teddy bear with her son. She reached out to the decedent affairs at Grady to inquire about how she could find out who the nurse was providing care for her son to ask if she gave her son the teddy bear. Decedent Affairs discovered that this Nurse was the last nurse providing care for her son. Decedent Affairs reached out to them and explained the circumstances and the story regarding the teddy bear. The mother wanted to provide her number so she could personally thank the nurse who cared enough. Samantha explained to Decedent Affairs that they provided post-mortem care, including the Teddy Bear, and explained, "I didn't want C to be alone; I didn't want him to be by himself."
This act of kindness, love, and compassion is at the very core of Grady's Values: Be Patient-Centered, Be Safe, Serve Others with Excellence, Do Right, Do Good! I am honored this Nurse works here, I am honored to be a part of their leadership team, and am honored to experience this level of care first-hand.