Football weekend in Blacksburg! A Maryland family had been preparing for this special weekend for months. Their son was a freshman engineering student at Virginia Tech so they loaded the car and traveled to Blacksburg. They had happy plans of checking on their "Hokie's" well-being while enjoying a weekend filled with activities only found here in the NRV; college football at Lane Stadium, great food and a hike to the beautiful Cascades.
Early Sunday morning, the scanner toned out for an unresponsive patient at the Cascades, but unsure of the details of the emergency. Shortly thereafter, paramedics arrived at the ED with M., a relieved 49-year-old husband, and father of 3 who thought he had gotten an insect bite causing him to be horribly allergic. His wife had injected him with an Epi Pen thinking he had been bitten during their hike. Sometime during the event, M. had a seizure but was awake and alert by the time paramedics arrived. He and his wife were even joking about the mishap to the ED nursing staff.
Frivolity turned to disbelief when the Dr. solemnly delivered the CT results: a brain tumor and a suspicious lung mass. Amy hugged and consoled M.'s wife, who was falling apart, not knowing how to process this devastating news. She also took care of the two young school age children who were in the room with hugs and words of encouragement. Amy's compassion didn't end when M. was transferred to another facility. She kept in touch with his wife, providing her cell number and offering her home if she needed a place to stay while her husband was receiving more tests. She also drove their Hokie son to Roanoke to visit his father, understanding how overwhelmed he would be.
Amy greets those in need of encouragement with one of her special hugs and follows with words of reassurance and hand holding. The DAISY Foundation asks us to highlight one instance of a nurse's compassion, but Amy makes kindheartedness and consideration her practice every time she puts on a Carilion badge.