Aubre Stevens
January 2021
Aubre
Stevens
,
RN, BS
Christiana Emergency Department
ChristianaCare
Aubre happened to be in the room at the time and quickly jumped into action, performing the life-saving CPR procedure that granted my family those precious few more days I have come to realize were remarkably imperative for all of us.
This year has been filled with overwhelming loss for so many of us. For various reasons, it's been the most difficult past 12-13 months of my entire life. Because of those facts, I've spent even more time reflecting on what I have to be thankful for. Today, I'd like to express my eternal gratitude to the Christiana Hospital Emergency Department nurse who gave my family a most treasured gift, 15 more days with Mom.
When Dad and I had Mom taken to the ED I was able to stay with her until about 3 am. Hospital regulations required the staff to chase me out when they did her COVID test. She was okay-ish when I left, but shortly after, she experienced a devastating cardiac event. This nurse happened to be in the room at the time and quickly jumped into action, performing the life-saving CPR procedure that granted my family those precious few more days I have come to realize were remarkably imperative for all of us. For the nurse and the rest of the ED staff, I imagine the whole thing was second-nature in their line of work- just another day on one of the most difficult jobs I can think of. For us, it allowed invaluable FaceTime chats, texts and calls, a couple of in-hospital visits (also thanks to the amazing MICU and SICU nurses), the ability to drop things off for her that would make her more comfortable and happy, and finally and most importantly, the chance for her to come home one last time.
The nurse, whom I met only briefly, was half my size at best, but she still managed to pump the life back into my mother and I will NEVER forget her for it. Because of Aubre (along with the most caring people I've ever spoken to from palliative care and hospice), Mom was able to spend the last night of her life in the house her parents had lived in for years before, with her husband of 39 years (to the day), and her beloved pug. The ED nurse will always hold a place in my heart and I will forever be grateful that she has chosen to give of herself, every day, to try to afford other humans any amount of time more to be with their loved ones again.
When Dad and I had Mom taken to the ED I was able to stay with her until about 3 am. Hospital regulations required the staff to chase me out when they did her COVID test. She was okay-ish when I left, but shortly after, she experienced a devastating cardiac event. This nurse happened to be in the room at the time and quickly jumped into action, performing the life-saving CPR procedure that granted my family those precious few more days I have come to realize were remarkably imperative for all of us. For the nurse and the rest of the ED staff, I imagine the whole thing was second-nature in their line of work- just another day on one of the most difficult jobs I can think of. For us, it allowed invaluable FaceTime chats, texts and calls, a couple of in-hospital visits (also thanks to the amazing MICU and SICU nurses), the ability to drop things off for her that would make her more comfortable and happy, and finally and most importantly, the chance for her to come home one last time.
The nurse, whom I met only briefly, was half my size at best, but she still managed to pump the life back into my mother and I will NEVER forget her for it. Because of Aubre (along with the most caring people I've ever spoken to from palliative care and hospice), Mom was able to spend the last night of her life in the house her parents had lived in for years before, with her husband of 39 years (to the day), and her beloved pug. The ED nurse will always hold a place in my heart and I will forever be grateful that she has chosen to give of herself, every day, to try to afford other humans any amount of time more to be with their loved ones again.