June 2015
Jeanette
Boekenoogen
,
RN
Telemetry
Renown Regional Medical Center
Reno
,
NV
United States
The week I was to be induced for my first baby my father in law, Mario, came to Reno from Northern California to be present for the birth. Mario had existing conditions that made travel difficult including end stage renal failure needing dialysis multiple times a week, hypertension, and a leg amputation causing him to need a wheelchair. Mario spoke often about how important it was for him to be present for the birth of his grandson, saying that he could die and be happy if he just got to hold a baby in his arms one more time.
The day before my induction Mario had dialysis and did not react to it the way he normaly did, he became unresponsive in his hotel room and was admitted from the ER for further care. The day my son was born he was not able to be present like he had hoped because he was sick. This broke Mario's heart.
I was only allowed to stay in the hospital for 2 days postpartum and on day one we tried to get Mario to our unit for a visit. His nurse that day said no, there would not be a way to monitor his heart on another unit. We were all very disappointed but no one more so than Mario. On the next day, the last day my son and I were to be at Renown, they tried to ask again if he could visit us. His nurse that day, Jeanette, found a way to let him visit while still being able to monitor him. I had never seen my father in law so happy and so proud than in those few precious moments that he was sitting with his son and grandson, able to hold him for the first time.
We didn't know at the time that that first time would also be the last. Mario passed away 9 days after my son was born. Had it not been for Jeanette and her ability to make this moment happen, Mario would have died without holding his grandson, the one thing he had so wanted to do during the last year of his life.
We will forever remember Jeanette and her kindness that day. To her it may not have been a big deal to let Mario visit the postpartum unit but to us it meant the world. The love and happiness in Mario's eyes that day are my last and favorite memories of him and that would not have happened if it was not for Jeanette.
The day before my induction Mario had dialysis and did not react to it the way he normaly did, he became unresponsive in his hotel room and was admitted from the ER for further care. The day my son was born he was not able to be present like he had hoped because he was sick. This broke Mario's heart.
I was only allowed to stay in the hospital for 2 days postpartum and on day one we tried to get Mario to our unit for a visit. His nurse that day said no, there would not be a way to monitor his heart on another unit. We were all very disappointed but no one more so than Mario. On the next day, the last day my son and I were to be at Renown, they tried to ask again if he could visit us. His nurse that day, Jeanette, found a way to let him visit while still being able to monitor him. I had never seen my father in law so happy and so proud than in those few precious moments that he was sitting with his son and grandson, able to hold him for the first time.
We didn't know at the time that that first time would also be the last. Mario passed away 9 days after my son was born. Had it not been for Jeanette and her ability to make this moment happen, Mario would have died without holding his grandson, the one thing he had so wanted to do during the last year of his life.
We will forever remember Jeanette and her kindness that day. To her it may not have been a big deal to let Mario visit the postpartum unit but to us it meant the world. The love and happiness in Mario's eyes that day are my last and favorite memories of him and that would not have happened if it was not for Jeanette.