I was admitted to the ICU after an emergency room visit for an anaphylaxis episode. At the time, I had no idea what all the fuss was about. Once Dr. D assessed me and gave me epinephrine, she felt I should go into the ICU just in case it happened again. While all of the ICU nurses gave great care, a couple stood out. D and Tina, night nurses (ICU), and M (day nurse ICU), were all experienced nurses who knew how to keep me calm after the initial anaphylactic episode.

I wasn’t prepared for two more attacks while in the ICU. I was scared, not sleeping, and alone. Tina was with me for the first night, for the second attack. Thank God! She watched me like a hawk and took amazing care of me; she was confident in what she was doing and her duties, which made me more confident. The second attack must have begun during the second or third night in ICU. Tina came in to check on me (physically) many times throughout the night. She also stood and sat in the nurses’ area with the window between my room and the next room. She gave me 200% percent of her attention!
She never had a phone in her hand or was ever distracted away from me. She was so attentive when she walked into my room and would check the monitor and IV, and she would look at me. I mean, really check me out. She must have noticed something because she was cool and calmly watched me and my monitor. After a few hours, she just came into the room and gave me the epi-pen shot; afterward, she calmly said, “I was watching you and the vitals, and my gut said keep your eyes on her.” I am so grateful she did!

Even though it happened again while I was in ICU, Tina’s words of wisdom, calmness, and kindness kept me calm! When I was getting discharged, she came to tell me goodbye. I thought that went above and beyond the call of duty!