May 2020
Sarah
Stovall
,
RN
Critical Care Unit
CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital
Bryan
,
TX
United States
When I think about the nurse whom I would want for my loved ones, I think about somebody who would treat my loved one as if they were their own. Compassion, empathy, communication, and selfless service are all qualities of this person. This February a family at CHI St. Joseph made the hardest decision that any parents would ever have to make. They decided that due to a non-survivable injury, they wanted to withdraw care on their son. They also made the decision that they wanted him to give the ultimate gift of life and live on in others through organ donation. The father is a local police officer and the mother is a nurse in the community. There were a lot of needs that were needing to be met by the family. This was their only son and it was earth-shattering for them. That day the Lord placed Sarah Stovall at their bedside. She cared for the patient and his family for five days. She was what the family called their "sunshine on a rainy day". Soon, the patient was made a HERO. Organ procurement was set for 0300am and we had CHI St. Josephs's 2nd Walk of Honor. Police officers, firefighters, nurses, family, and friends lined the hallways to the operating room. It was emotional, and it was beautiful. Sarah was the patient's nurse that day, but her shift didn't end at 7 pm. Knowing that the worst for this family was yet to come she clocked out and went right back to the family's side to continue her job taking care of them. She was with them when we walked down the halls to the OR. She was with them in the OR when the patient took his last breath. She was with them when they got the news of how many people their son saved that night. She stayed until 0600am with the family. They knew that Sarah would advocate for them. Sarah has a pure heart. She makes families feel safe. The type of nurse who makes the youth want to become nurses one day. Her selfless service does not go unnoticed. She is a beacon of light and love to every patient who has the honor of having her as their nurse.