It's easy to forget the night warriors. You do not see them, yet they are there. Many times, the glory goes to the daytime staff, caregivers see them and interact with them on a regular basis. An important part of the healing process occurs at night; the rest and rejuvenation that the body needs to fight illness, infection, and disease. But what if the toughest part of your health journey was related to your fear of the night? If you are not well-rested, your rehabilitation is doomed. For my mother, the darkness of night is her worst nightmare...again.
We believe my mom suffered a significant stroke on a Monday after a holiday. Her best friend found her on Saturday morning. We know she laid there that long based on her text messages, but more importantly, she counted the darkness of night that enveloped her at day's end while she lay helpless and unable to move on the hallway floor for almost 5 days.
To make matters worse, my mom is profoundly hearing-impaired and since she suffered a stroke in her sleep, she did not have her hearing aids in at the time. So, while she lay waiting for someone to come help her, she would never know if someone knocked on the door to check on her; she would never know when to cry out for help to attract someone. Luckily, her friend had a key to her house and walked in and found her early on that Saturday morning and contacted 911.
The thirst and dryness of being dehydrated took a toll on her body. Her organs were starting to shut down. Her mouth was like a desert with cuts and ridges on her cheeks from sucking them dry from lack of liquid. She prayed for water, but none came. She prayed to die but didn't. She prayed to live and did.
So, after arriving in the Emergency Room and being stabilized, mom was sent to the 4th floor to recover. Before being sent to 3West for rehab, she suffered from severe abdominal pain. On Friday she was rushed to surgery for emergency ulcer repair. Another setback. By Sunday she was on her way to 3West to begin intensive inpatient rehab...again. And so, the therapy begins, but the nights are long and scary. Nightmares and PTSD consume her evening hours after I leave when she finishes her dinner.
This is where DAISY comes in. The acronym PETALS so perfectly describes all of Nurse David's wonderful attributes.
P - Passion/compassion: If it weren't for the compassion and empathy shown to my mom by Nurse David, I don't think she would have been able to complete 60 days of intensive rehab. She would have struggled or failed due to lack of rest. David comforted her and held her hand when she was frightened at night and reassured her that everything would be okay. Thanks to him, she was able to quiet her mind and rest her body.
E-Empathy: The empathy shown to my mom was astounding. David always had fresh cold water within my mom's reach knowing that her fear of lack of water was profound. He expressed concern for her emotional wellbeing and suggested medications when he thought she was in pain or needed to sleep.
T-Trust and Teamwork: The trust that David built with her allowed her to feel protected enough to try to sleep. Knowing he was watching over her and he was just outside her door gave her comfort. When she first came to 3West, she was not even strong enough to push her call button. Because of her profound hearing impairment, her room was positioned right outside the nurse's station so they could keep an eye on her. David parked his mobile desk outside my mom's room so he could hear if she needed any help.
A - Admirable Attributes: I think David's most admirable attribute is his tenacity and drive to truly understand each and every patient. When my mom developed an undetermined rash, he went through her medication list and helped me rule out foods to try to identify what the rash could be from; my mom's anxiety would seem to be the culprit again. The fear factor truly wreaks havoc on your body. Again, David worked hard to make sure that her nights were as stress-free as possible and that she knew he was always there looking out for her.
L-Love for Patients and Nursing: One of the most significant things that David did was also the simplest. My mom was so touched by his love and kindness when he would bring a washcloth in the middle of the night to comfort and clean her. Losing your independence as a stroke victim, well the sink is only 6 feet away, but it might as well be 6 miles away because you can't get out of bed with a paralyzed leg to reach the basin. Just wow!
S-Selflessness: David would many times stay late after his shift because he knew that I would be coming in the hospital before 8 AM to start my day as my mom's caregiver and to do therapy with her. He always sought me out to give me a detailed account of how her night went. I found this incredibly touching and informative. It helped me better understand what she was feeling physically and emotionally.
The scars from my mom's emergency ulcer surgery are still visible. The scars from my mom's hellish nightmare are invisible but much more pronounced. Without David's help during her long frightening nights, she would not have had the chance to regain her speech, arm/leg mobility, and some of her independence that she lost from her significant stroke. I believe daisies need sunshine, but they also need to be nurtured and have plenty of rest and a good night's sleep to grow.