I work with Tonomi in Pre-op/PACU every weekend. This one weekend a critical patient was admitted through the ED after having a spontaneous intracranial bleed requiring emergent surgery. Tomomi and I responded to the OR to assist with the care and prepping of the patient for his emergent procedure. At this time, it was discovered the patient was Japanese and the patient's wife was in our waiting room. It was unknown if the wife spoke English and understood the severity of her husband's medical condition. Tomomi immediately went to the wife's side. The wife did understand English, which was her primary language but was unable to communicate effectively to the family who lived in Japan.
Giving permission, the wife asked if Tomomi could make contact with the patient's mother in Japan and communicate in Japanese his initial problem and plan of care. This was a great comfort to the wife, knowing his mother had an expert translation of the severity of the medical condition. The mother was unable to come to the United States and be with her son during the COVID crisis. Over the next few weeks, the patient's wife kept in contact with Tomomi having her explain to the family in Japanese ongoing condition reports. Tomomi and this mother had a lot in common, both being nurses in Japan.
Tomomi visited the patient frequently in the ICU, speaking in Japanese to him which helped orient him to his surroundings. The patient did well in the end and was transferred to long term rehab. The mother in Japan acknowledged Tomomi for the compassionate communication during this trying time for a family who lived thousands of miles away by sending Tomomi a thank you card and gift. During this initial encounter, the OR sent Tomomi an Encore card recognizing what she did for the family, feeling she had gone above and beyond.