December 2019
Ashley
Fussner
,
RN, BSN
Cardiology
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston
,
SC
United States
I am a Cardiology patient here at MUSC. My illness occurred out of the blue resulting in a trip to my local heart hospital in Columbia. Upon my stay in the hospital in Columbia, it was revealed to me that my heart was failing, and I would need to be transported to MUSC. I was beyond scared and devastated. I agreed to being transported, yet I was still scared. I arrived at MUSC and I was greeted by multiple nurses and staff. However it was one particular nurse who stuck out. Being away from home with no family support on that particular day was scary. My nurse for the night and the nurse who made the deepest impact and showed me the most compassion is no other than Ashley Fussner at the Ashley River Tower.
Ashley helped to cure my anxiety and many emotions that were taking over me at one time. Being young and told that your heart is failing, with no family, being afraid of needles, and not knowing if you're going to live is not a good feeling. Ashley held my hand, she cried with me, and she let me vent. She listened to me and she expressed her empathy, however, me giving up on life and having a pity party was not an option. NOT AN OPTION AT ALL. Ashley was the major influencer for me to have an LVAD surgery. I told her that I was afraid and that I was tired of being sick. She listened once again, and she cried. She gave me a million reasons as to why I should get the surgery. She said if I had the surgery that she would be there every step of the way.
From that moment to this one, she meant every single word that she said. She is the best nurse that MUSC has and Ashley helped to change what was possible. Ashley taught me that my sickness was not impossible. She showed me that faith, compassion, empathy, and LOVE is what I had to have along with my dynamic surgeon and doctors to make it all possible. I feel as though Ashley is my angel on earth. My only sister passed away 3 years ago in an auto collision and her name was the same as Ashley. It's no coincidence that was her name. I want to thank Ashley from the bottom of my heart for being the best nurse a human being could have. I love you and thank you for inspiring me to live.
Ashley helped to cure my anxiety and many emotions that were taking over me at one time. Being young and told that your heart is failing, with no family, being afraid of needles, and not knowing if you're going to live is not a good feeling. Ashley held my hand, she cried with me, and she let me vent. She listened to me and she expressed her empathy, however, me giving up on life and having a pity party was not an option. NOT AN OPTION AT ALL. Ashley was the major influencer for me to have an LVAD surgery. I told her that I was afraid and that I was tired of being sick. She listened once again, and she cried. She gave me a million reasons as to why I should get the surgery. She said if I had the surgery that she would be there every step of the way.
From that moment to this one, she meant every single word that she said. She is the best nurse that MUSC has and Ashley helped to change what was possible. Ashley taught me that my sickness was not impossible. She showed me that faith, compassion, empathy, and LOVE is what I had to have along with my dynamic surgeon and doctors to make it all possible. I feel as though Ashley is my angel on earth. My only sister passed away 3 years ago in an auto collision and her name was the same as Ashley. It's no coincidence that was her name. I want to thank Ashley from the bottom of my heart for being the best nurse a human being could have. I love you and thank you for inspiring me to live.