Tracie Arellano
March 2022
Tracie
Arellano
,
RN
ED
MountainView Regional Medical Center
Las Cruces
,
NM
United States
Tracie understood that after 53 years together she couldn't just send my father to be alone in a hotel room without any support from family while his wife's life remained uncertain in the hands of strangers.
In short, the decisions and actions as well as the overall compassion Tracie demonstrated toward my family's difficult situation were without a doubt what saved my mother's life. My mother and father had flown to Las Cruces, NM from Philadelphia, PA, in early December, to arrange the funeral for my mom's cousin, who had just passed away. Their stay had unexpectedly been extended by several weeks due to delays with the funeral home being backed up as a result of COVID deaths.
While in Las Cruces, my mother became sick. She was resistant to going to the hospital for care because she knew that my father would not be permitted to be by her side due to COVID restrictions. My parents are both 75 years old and have been married for 53 years (Might I mention, her cousin married them and also renewed their vows on their 50th anniversary). They were from out of town, living in a hotel room with no other family members even remotely nearby. As the days passed, my mother became increasingly ill. A visit to a local urgent care determined that my mother not only had COVID, but she also had strep throat. They put her on O2 with saturations in the low 80s and recommended that my mother go to the hospital. She could not be convinced to go to the hospital because she knew she would be alone and separated from my father.
From Pennsylvania, I frantically called around to multiple local hospitals and eventually came across Tracie on the other end of the phone. She listened to my plight and understood how I was feeling and where I was coming from emotionally. Traci reassured me that my mother and father would be taken care of if they came to the ER that morning. I knew that I had Tracie's word. If I could get my mother to agree to have my father bring her to the hospital, Tracie and her team would take care of them. I called my parents at their hotel and was able to convince them to go to MountainView Hospital. I told them to ask for Tracie when they arrived. They did and Tracie met them in the ED. She made sure that my mother was swiftly tended to with my father at her side.
My mom spent 11 hours in that emergency room being cared for by a team of really special medical personnel all under the charge of Tracie. My mother was able to finally rest in comfort knowing my father was nearby. She could let down her guard and allow the staff to work on her knowing her life partner was watching over her. I owe a special shout-out to the doctor also who provided excellent care to my mother and ordered a battery of tests to further evaluate my mother's condition and safety with regard to her age and level severity of COVID. My mother received x-rays, steroids, fluids, and oxygen just to name a few things.
The hospital could not admit my mother that night as it was full, but I know my mother, she wouldn't have wanted to stay. Tracie and her team provided excellent care to both my mother and my father that day. I could feel at ease back in Philadelphia knowing Tracie was watching over my mother and father with an understanding of the pain and angst I felt from so far away. My mother was discharged that night to her hotel room under the care of my father. She had COVID pneumonia and was on 5 liters of oxygen. This is not ideal in ordinary circumstances, but in COVID times this was/is our new reality. My mother's life was still uncertain at the time of her discharge, but had it not been for Tracie going above and beyond to not only care for my mother medically, but to see the larger picture and to provide for the needs of my parents as an inseparable unit, my mom would likely not be with us today.
Tracie understood that after 53 years together she couldn't just send my father to be alone in a hotel room without any support from family while his wife's life remained uncertain in the hands of strangers. She was professional, yet kind and reassuring to me over the phone calling from across the country. She took risks and performed her job in a manner that I hope will be replicated for other families in the future. There is no question that she demonstrated compassion and a genuine caring attitude for myself and toward my parents.
By the end of her shift, I called back to thank Tracie for her kindness and compassion toward me and my parents. She was appreciative, yet humble. Tracie is a gem and should be recognized for her efforts on the day she cared for my mother (and father) and on all days that she sets foot in that hospital. My mother has made an almost full recovery since this day, but it has taken months. We are so grateful for the actions of Tracie on that day! Today my mother's husband, her 4 adult children, and their 4 spouses are grateful, but most grateful of all are the 11 grandchildren who still have their grandmom in their lives because of the decisions Tracie made that day when admitting my mom to Mountain View Hospital. Thank you, thank you! Thank you, Tracie!!
While in Las Cruces, my mother became sick. She was resistant to going to the hospital for care because she knew that my father would not be permitted to be by her side due to COVID restrictions. My parents are both 75 years old and have been married for 53 years (Might I mention, her cousin married them and also renewed their vows on their 50th anniversary). They were from out of town, living in a hotel room with no other family members even remotely nearby. As the days passed, my mother became increasingly ill. A visit to a local urgent care determined that my mother not only had COVID, but she also had strep throat. They put her on O2 with saturations in the low 80s and recommended that my mother go to the hospital. She could not be convinced to go to the hospital because she knew she would be alone and separated from my father.
From Pennsylvania, I frantically called around to multiple local hospitals and eventually came across Tracie on the other end of the phone. She listened to my plight and understood how I was feeling and where I was coming from emotionally. Traci reassured me that my mother and father would be taken care of if they came to the ER that morning. I knew that I had Tracie's word. If I could get my mother to agree to have my father bring her to the hospital, Tracie and her team would take care of them. I called my parents at their hotel and was able to convince them to go to MountainView Hospital. I told them to ask for Tracie when they arrived. They did and Tracie met them in the ED. She made sure that my mother was swiftly tended to with my father at her side.
My mom spent 11 hours in that emergency room being cared for by a team of really special medical personnel all under the charge of Tracie. My mother was able to finally rest in comfort knowing my father was nearby. She could let down her guard and allow the staff to work on her knowing her life partner was watching over her. I owe a special shout-out to the doctor also who provided excellent care to my mother and ordered a battery of tests to further evaluate my mother's condition and safety with regard to her age and level severity of COVID. My mother received x-rays, steroids, fluids, and oxygen just to name a few things.
The hospital could not admit my mother that night as it was full, but I know my mother, she wouldn't have wanted to stay. Tracie and her team provided excellent care to both my mother and my father that day. I could feel at ease back in Philadelphia knowing Tracie was watching over my mother and father with an understanding of the pain and angst I felt from so far away. My mother was discharged that night to her hotel room under the care of my father. She had COVID pneumonia and was on 5 liters of oxygen. This is not ideal in ordinary circumstances, but in COVID times this was/is our new reality. My mother's life was still uncertain at the time of her discharge, but had it not been for Tracie going above and beyond to not only care for my mother medically, but to see the larger picture and to provide for the needs of my parents as an inseparable unit, my mom would likely not be with us today.
Tracie understood that after 53 years together she couldn't just send my father to be alone in a hotel room without any support from family while his wife's life remained uncertain in the hands of strangers. She was professional, yet kind and reassuring to me over the phone calling from across the country. She took risks and performed her job in a manner that I hope will be replicated for other families in the future. There is no question that she demonstrated compassion and a genuine caring attitude for myself and toward my parents.
By the end of her shift, I called back to thank Tracie for her kindness and compassion toward me and my parents. She was appreciative, yet humble. Tracie is a gem and should be recognized for her efforts on the day she cared for my mother (and father) and on all days that she sets foot in that hospital. My mother has made an almost full recovery since this day, but it has taken months. We are so grateful for the actions of Tracie on that day! Today my mother's husband, her 4 adult children, and their 4 spouses are grateful, but most grateful of all are the 11 grandchildren who still have their grandmom in their lives because of the decisions Tracie made that day when admitting my mom to Mountain View Hospital. Thank you, thank you! Thank you, Tracie!!