My mom went from feeling healthy at home to awakening the next morning barely able to breathe and being transported to UMC Emergency by ambulance. When they eventually transferred her from ER to 3 West diagnosed with pneumonia, her condition had worsened, and I was advised that mom might need to be placed in ICU instead and possibly intubated. At hearing this, I was left devastated and confused by the decision to be made and that we could lose mom.
Thankfully, Linette Smith was now mom's new nurse and assuming her care. After reassuring me, she explained an alternate treatment plan she could try on mom. Linette also positioned herself directly outside of mom's room in order to personally monitor her progress throughout the day. By that afternoon, mom had improved and stabilized for the first time. I am grateful and not only credit Linette for saving my mom's life that day, but also really appreciate the amount of sensitivity and compassion she showed my mom and our family when communicating with us. Linette clearly went above and beyond; she exemplifies nursing and is a credit to her profession.