My mother underwent surgery to have a stent placed in her right carotid artery, which was 60% blocked. During the surgery, she suffered a major stroke that affected two-thirds of the right side of her brain.
After her surgery, she was moved to ICU South, where she spent a total of two weeks. During her time in ICU, the extreme severity of the stroke became apparent to me. After her surgery, both a breathing and feeding tube were placed due to the severe brain damage from the stroke. She was also unable to speak or move her limbs. After one week in ICU, I was told that a tracheotomy would need to be performed to protect her airways. It was heartbreaking for me to see my mother in the condition that she was in.
There was so much that I wanted to ask her but was never able to do so after the trachea was placed in her throat. I was at my mother's bedside day and night and constantly worried. After a period of 2 weeks, I was informed that she would be moved to Baptist Health Extended Care on the 10th floor of the hospital. I was very apprehensive about my mother being transferred from ICU South as felt that she still needed to be watched very closely. I was not familiar with the Baptist Health Extended Care facility and wondered if she would receive the same level of care that she did in ICU South.
One of my good friends came by to visit my mother and I that night. I informed my friend about my mom being moved upstairs and how nervous I was about the entire situation. She suggested that we go up to the 10th floor, take a look around and view the room that had been assigned to my mother. While we were in the room, a nurse walked in and asked if she could assist us. She introduced herself as Tarrah Trammell.
I told her that my mom would be moved up to the floor that night. I explained how worried I was and that my mother needed to be watched very closely. As I was explaining this to Tarrah, I burst into tears and told her how afraid I was. I did not have siblings or other family members here in Little Rock to assist me with caring for my mother. She gave me a big hug and assured me that mom would receive the best care possible. Tarrah told me that the nurse's station was right next to my mother's room and that each room was monitored by cameras at all times. She also looked at the schedule and told me that she would be the nurse assigned to care for my mom that night.
I felt a calmness after speaking with Tarrah. She was so understanding and told me that she would come in and check on my mother very frequently that night. From that point going forward, Tarrah provided my mother with excellent care during her stay there.
Even when my mother was not her patient, Tarrah would still stop in to check on her and monitor her on the cameras. Nurses like Tarrah are truly blessings to people like me. During the time that my mother was in the hospital, I spread myself very thin because I wanted to be there and spend as much time with her as possible. I knew that I would not have much time left with her as her health was quickly deteriorating. I also felt as though I needed to be my mother's voice since she was not able to speak.
During our time here at Baptist Health Extended Care, Tarrah truly felt like a part of our family. She was always so kind to myself, my family and anyone who came to visit my mother. The nights in which I knew that Tarrah was my mom's nurse, I would go home to get rest because I knew that she would provide her with excellent care.
Unfortunately, my mother's condition did not improve, and I had to make the very difficult decision to request withdrawal of care and for her to be taken off the ventilator. Mother lived for a while after being taken off the vent. That night I held her hand and told her everything I wanted her to know before she passed away. Tarrah was with me when my mother took her last breath. I truly believe Tarrah is one of God's angels sent to comfort me during this time. She is an excellent nurse and truly is caring and compassionate. I can never repay her for her kindness. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to meet her. And I am grateful for the excellent care that she provided my mother. You are very fortunate to have a nurse of her caliber on your staff.