I was walking in the hallway when I was asked for my help with a former patient who wanted to thank two nurses. This former patient was here last December and he wanted to find a nurse by the name of Caitlyn. He just wanted to thank this nurse for the care he received last year. As I was talking to him I found out that he had quad by-pass surgery last December, so we decided to try our Cardiology Unit. I was trying to capture in my memory all that he was saying regarding the care they gave him, but the bottom line was that Caitlyn and Heather had dramatically impacted his life.
He said Caitlyn had helped him with his "first steps" and he talked about how strong she was. He could trust her to make sure he didn't fall. This patient is planning to come back to bring roses for Caitlyn, as she works a night shift.
He explained to me that the feeling after his quad by-pass was like a computer rebooting. Some of his senses like taste came back gradually. He felt his mind had to be reprogramed to walk, deal with the pain, even eat.
He just turned 58 a few days ago and he said he had been healthy all his life, never was hospitalized and all of a sudden, he was dependent on others and trying to work through the pain. He mentioned how humbling it was to have someone help him to the bathroom but that Caitlyn treated him with dignity and respect. He told us that he shares over and over with family and friends the great care that Heather and Caitlyn gave him and the impact they had on his life.
As I was walking him out, he mentioned how grateful he was for another year of life and that each year he will come back and tell them "thank you."
Thank you, Caitlyn, for not just doing your job but doing your job with passion, caring, compassion.