Tadej Kovacevic
August 2025
Tadej
Kovacevic
,
RN
Intensiv Care Unit - GICU 1
University Hospital Bonn
Bonn
Germany
But Mr. Kovacevic always knew what I was physically capable of and that it was only my head/fear that was standing in my way.
My first “own memory” is of Mr. Kovacevic coming into my room, in a good mood, with cheerful and encouraging words on his lips, saying, “Right, I'm going to get you into the chair now.” I felt like I had just woken up from a coma and been extubated, and now I was supposed to get into a chair? “I can't do that,” I said. But Mr. Kovacevic always knew what I was physically capable of and that it was only my head/fear that was standing in my way. For the first time after the coma and lying down for a long time, I stood on my feet for 5 seconds with Mr. Kovacevic's help. I will never forget that feeling! I started crying with joy, and Mr. Kovacevic smiled at me and praised me for doing so well. I know that I could hardly help due to my lack of muscle strength. Nevertheless, Mr. Kovacevic stuck to his plan: to mobilize me in the MobiChair as often as possible. One of his colleagues once said to me, “Yes, Tadej is our mobilizer.” When I was sitting in the chair, Mr. Kovacevic played my favorite music and turned me in the chair so that I could look out the window. That was the moment when a change of thinking took place in my head: “Life goes on! Yes, it's sh... right now, but it WILL get better!” I was also given a strict training program to get back into shape! I always felt incredibly guilty when I got on the bed bike. It took a long time to set up and prepare. Nevertheless, this time was taken so that I could train. And, as Nurse A always advised: “Structure your day yourself in the hospital.” I am aware that there are more important things than looking well-groomed when you are in intensive care. And with all the drains, catheters, medication, perfusors, surgical gowns, and other things, when I looked at my body, I didn't feel like a human being, never mind a woman. Mr. Kovacevic, as I sat in the chair, combed my hair, smoothed it, and put my glasses on. That's when something clicked inside me: “Oh, I am a human being! I am a WOMAN!” That feeling was indescribable!!! Mr. Kovacevic also left a lasting impression with many small gestures. For example, he always greeted me with his gloved hand so he could compare my handshake with the previous day's. Then I had to press my feet against his hands so he could measure the increase in strength there as well. He also asked me every day during his shift how I was doing. Mr. Kovacevic is fondly remembered by my family, especially me! With all due respect, he is the best nurse I could have wished for in my situation! His manner, his nature, his professional competence—everything was exactly what I needed to look ahead!