March 2020
Mary
Gallagher
,
RN
Critical Care
Southwest General Health Center
Middleburg Heights
,
OH
United States
My husband was Mary's patient after a sudden heart attack. He barely survived the event from the ER, but with the amazing work of the emergency staff, he made it to the hands of Mary. I watched in awe as Mary worked like a magician to manage his eight IVs to the precise levels to pull my husband to a stable medical state. She did this while I asked a million questions, which probably drove her crazy! She didn't just give a quick answer to get rid of me, she would stop and speak to me, look me straight in the eyes to tell me, "If I'm not worried, you're not worried." Mary was consistent, kind, funny, clinical, and all around the best nurse, I have witnessed. Mary maintained such professionalism, too. I contacted a colleague (a Cardiologist from another local institution) while everything was processing, and she was working to save my husband. Mary was not insulted or dismayed by this, even offered her assistance to communicate with him. At discharge, we were fortunate that Mary was there to see my husband leave the floor. As I gave her an enormous hug, I told her I want to be a nurse like her. As I complete nursing school, I know where I want to work all because Mary set the bar of how nursing is meant to be. Thank you, Mary, you are a blessing to each and every patient you care for.