Tracy Wilson
December 2023
Tracy
Wilson
,
RN
OR
Norton Brownsboro Hospital
Louisville
,
KY
United States
His daughter just kept saying that they wanted the KODA flag because it was the last thing that was on him while his heart was still beating. This stayed with Tracy, and she somehow was able to get an identical KODA flag from a friend who works at KODA. She made the most beautiful quilt for the family.
I debated writing this email, but I truly think one of the circulating nurses I work with needs recognition for going above and beyond to make something special happen for the family of an organ donor.
On many occasions, I have had the honor of being part of the operative team for an organ procurement case, and these cases are very special to me and to Tracy Wilson's heart. She always goes to the ICU to help bring the patient down to the OR, and to speak to their family to introduce herself as part of the operative team. On one occasion, she went to help bring the patient down, and the family had previously been told that the KODA flag that was placed on the patient would be brought back to them to take home. Tracy knew that it belonged to the ICU, so she was confused. After the case, she took the patient's wedding band back to his wife and the flag back to the ICU ANM office and informed the ANM that the family was told they could keep it. She didn't know what to do because she was aware that it belonged to the ICU. After some confusion, and the family not receiving any follow up, they were upset.
Tracy was leaving for her shift when she saw that the family was in the hospital lobby, and she learned that they did not receive any follow-up. His daughter just kept saying that they wanted the KODA flag because it was the last thing that was on him while his heart was still beating. This stayed with Tracy, and she somehow was able to get an identical KODA flag from a friend who works at KODA. She made the most beautiful quilt for the family. She also managed to get ahold of the family through the funeral home after she explained she wanted to get something special for them.
Tracy knows that I have always volunteered to be a tech in KODA cases when I'm able to because it holds a special place in my heart after the first one she and I did together, so she shared this story with me. It is amazing what she did for this family and to know that the family received closure. They were very thankful and tearful to have received this quilt. I haven’t seen Tracy in a while, but she sent me the picture attached. I do not have a picture of the full quilt finished, but I did see it, and it looked beautiful. She is not one to boast about what she did for this family, so I am sharing this story with you so that maybe you can shine a light on Tracy's actions. She went the extra mile, and then some, for her patient's family.
The team behind the red line does not usually interact with families as much as staff nurses do, so it is so special to see this. I am always honored to work alongside Tracy and to see the care she takes with every patient in the short time she gets to see them awake.
On many occasions, I have had the honor of being part of the operative team for an organ procurement case, and these cases are very special to me and to Tracy Wilson's heart. She always goes to the ICU to help bring the patient down to the OR, and to speak to their family to introduce herself as part of the operative team. On one occasion, she went to help bring the patient down, and the family had previously been told that the KODA flag that was placed on the patient would be brought back to them to take home. Tracy knew that it belonged to the ICU, so she was confused. After the case, she took the patient's wedding band back to his wife and the flag back to the ICU ANM office and informed the ANM that the family was told they could keep it. She didn't know what to do because she was aware that it belonged to the ICU. After some confusion, and the family not receiving any follow up, they were upset.
Tracy was leaving for her shift when she saw that the family was in the hospital lobby, and she learned that they did not receive any follow-up. His daughter just kept saying that they wanted the KODA flag because it was the last thing that was on him while his heart was still beating. This stayed with Tracy, and she somehow was able to get an identical KODA flag from a friend who works at KODA. She made the most beautiful quilt for the family. She also managed to get ahold of the family through the funeral home after she explained she wanted to get something special for them.
Tracy knows that I have always volunteered to be a tech in KODA cases when I'm able to because it holds a special place in my heart after the first one she and I did together, so she shared this story with me. It is amazing what she did for this family and to know that the family received closure. They were very thankful and tearful to have received this quilt. I haven’t seen Tracy in a while, but she sent me the picture attached. I do not have a picture of the full quilt finished, but I did see it, and it looked beautiful. She is not one to boast about what she did for this family, so I am sharing this story with you so that maybe you can shine a light on Tracy's actions. She went the extra mile, and then some, for her patient's family.
The team behind the red line does not usually interact with families as much as staff nurses do, so it is so special to see this. I am always honored to work alongside Tracy and to see the care she takes with every patient in the short time she gets to see them awake.