Zachery Williams
October 2015
Zachery
Williams
,
BSN, RN
ICU
University of Chicago Medicine
Chicago
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

I would like to thank the staff of the intensive care unit. It was with the care of this department, every physician, nurse, x-ray tech, respiratory tech, and physical therapist that I have my son today. I would also like to commend a special young man for all he did and for what he meant to us.

My son and I arrived one night in May, 2015. My husband works midnights so I was there alone. It was a very scary night. My son was placed in an induced coma, paralyzed, with so many machines in the room it would have scared anyone. I was told that all they could do for him now was to keep him comfortable. That's when I met Zackary Williams.

Zach was assigned to be his nurse and continued to be for the next few days, and words cannot express the appreciation that we feel in our hearts for the care that he not only provided our son, but also our family. Zack worked diligently as our son had many healthcare needs and concerns during the early part of his stay. And as he cared for our son, Zach also showed kindness and empathy to us. He explained the care that our son was receiving and why it was important to his stabilization and recovery. At times when some doctors came in and gave clinical explanations for the care that he was receiving, Zach would follow up after and answer questions that we had and provide a more human face on the situation. He was a calming force during a brutal storm.

We grew to become very comfortable with Zach, and requested him as our son's nurse when possible. We also appreciated that when Zach was asked by the ICU floor if he could work an extra shift, he agreed but with the request to be assigned to our son's care during that shift.

After his ICU stay was complete and our son was transferred to a general floor, Zack stopped by after one of his shifts to visit and check up on his recovery. It was great to know that his concern for our son continued beyond the time of having him as a patient.

Zach clearly deserves his high demanding position as an ICU nurse in a top hospital in the country. During our various family members' stays in hospitals or nursing homes throughout the years, none have made an impression on us the way that Zach has; he is in a league of his own. We will forever remember and be grateful for this young man's considerate care that he provided our son and our family. I really cannot express the amount of heartfelt gratitude we feel for this young man.

Additionally, thank you to your hospital for the excellent care that our son received from all of your staff. His life was in their hands, and the doctors and nurses aided our son to a full recovery, where at one point his future seemed unclear. We are eternally grateful to everyone who was involved with his care.