Emma Worthington
May 2021
Emma
Worthington
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
Meritus Medical Center
Hagerstown
,
MD
United States
As I was crying hysterically at my son's new "life sentence", Emma comforted me in a way that I can't ever thank her enough.
I had to rush my 12-year-old son to the Emergency Room. He seemed to have a stomach bug and at the very last moment, had a hard time breathing. When I got to the ER with him, I was helped by a very nice woman who was getting his stats who rushed him to a bed. There, we were greeted by Miss Emma who was the sweetest and most calming person who settled us right into the ER room/bed. She made sure D was comfortable and answered his many questions. She told him we needed to get some fluids right away and worked so hard to get his veins to "share his blood' with her. He only asked that she poke him on the count of three. Due to his excess level of dehydration, she worked extra hard not to have to try too many times. She again walked him through the process and continuously checked to make sure he was comfortable.
D asked Emma what was in the IV and she informed him it was fluids that included salt and sugar. She said "whoops that took too long, I need to get another stick", came back in and asked for D's other hand that was under the blanket. She was able to get a reading and that's when she told us D was a Type I Diabetic. His sugar was 545. She let me know that it was a double check as she had already gotten the reading the first time and had written on her glove that he was 537. In a sign of relief (in a very dark moment for me), D immediately asked Emma to turn the bag off because he can't have sugar. Emma went and got another bag without sugar in it as D asked. He's familiar with TID as his father is a TID. Emma graciously explained what was about to happen to us both.
As I was crying hysterically at my son's new "life sentence", she comforted me in a way that I can't ever thank her enough. As I gathered myself together, she continued to make sure D was okay and he never seemed concerned at all! Emma told us that he was being flown to Children's Hospital. D has never flown! She told him how cool he was and that he was lucky. He asked her if I, mom, could go and when there was a chance I couldn't, he asked if Emma could go. D is extremely attached to me. The fact that he was so comfortable in asking her to go was the sweetest moment. She took care of my son so much that he wanted her to go. I haven't seen Emma since that day, and I wish I could find her somehow. I will never be able to thank Emma enough for what she did for D, me, us that day! She didn't let us "worry"/ She never made the situation scary!
In fact, it wasn't until I got to D in the Children's PICU that I worried. Emma was so clear in the steps, may have even walked him out with the staff at Children's to get into the helicopter, but again I will never be able to thank Emma enough for what she did that day. As I sit here and tear up thinking about that day, the love she gave to us strangers that day, I'm so grateful for Emma. For those short couple of hours, I will remember her for life, the life she didn't allow to be taken away from me that day. I don't remember much else as far as people or what happened, but I will never forget Emma. It's been 20 days since this happened and in 20 years, I will still remember her kind, compassionate, caring, loving, professional, calming, patient, sweet, thoughtful, and most considerate of our "moment" that day. To some, it may be just a job. To us, it will forever be more than this. They say you're put in paths to meet people and I missed signs of D going into DKA, but there will never be enough happiness that we had for Emma on that day. Thank you, Emma, for being the most amazing nurse! I wish we could've taken you with us to Children's. D asked for you when we got out of PICU.
D asked Emma what was in the IV and she informed him it was fluids that included salt and sugar. She said "whoops that took too long, I need to get another stick", came back in and asked for D's other hand that was under the blanket. She was able to get a reading and that's when she told us D was a Type I Diabetic. His sugar was 545. She let me know that it was a double check as she had already gotten the reading the first time and had written on her glove that he was 537. In a sign of relief (in a very dark moment for me), D immediately asked Emma to turn the bag off because he can't have sugar. Emma went and got another bag without sugar in it as D asked. He's familiar with TID as his father is a TID. Emma graciously explained what was about to happen to us both.
As I was crying hysterically at my son's new "life sentence", she comforted me in a way that I can't ever thank her enough. As I gathered myself together, she continued to make sure D was okay and he never seemed concerned at all! Emma told us that he was being flown to Children's Hospital. D has never flown! She told him how cool he was and that he was lucky. He asked her if I, mom, could go and when there was a chance I couldn't, he asked if Emma could go. D is extremely attached to me. The fact that he was so comfortable in asking her to go was the sweetest moment. She took care of my son so much that he wanted her to go. I haven't seen Emma since that day, and I wish I could find her somehow. I will never be able to thank Emma enough for what she did for D, me, us that day! She didn't let us "worry"/ She never made the situation scary!
In fact, it wasn't until I got to D in the Children's PICU that I worried. Emma was so clear in the steps, may have even walked him out with the staff at Children's to get into the helicopter, but again I will never be able to thank Emma enough for what she did that day. As I sit here and tear up thinking about that day, the love she gave to us strangers that day, I'm so grateful for Emma. For those short couple of hours, I will remember her for life, the life she didn't allow to be taken away from me that day. I don't remember much else as far as people or what happened, but I will never forget Emma. It's been 20 days since this happened and in 20 years, I will still remember her kind, compassionate, caring, loving, professional, calming, patient, sweet, thoughtful, and most considerate of our "moment" that day. To some, it may be just a job. To us, it will forever be more than this. They say you're put in paths to meet people and I missed signs of D going into DKA, but there will never be enough happiness that we had for Emma on that day. Thank you, Emma, for being the most amazing nurse! I wish we could've taken you with us to Children's. D asked for you when we got out of PICU.