Lisa Proskey
June 2021
Lisa
Proskey
,
RN
Cardiac Cath Lab
Chandler Regional Medical Center
Chandler
,
AZ
United States
When he walked away, we both knew Lisa must have said something and advocated for our dad. In our hearts, we know she saved his life.
E is 86-years-old and has always been very independent. He had a stent in 2000 and has been stable cardiac-wise since then. He had a stroke in 2007 and has some trouble expressing himself at times. My parents live independently and usually walk a mile each day. My dad casually said he had slight arm pain on two occasions, but didn’t want to tell her he had been having left arm pain for the previous two weeks every time they went for a walk.
When the pain was in his chest with shortness of breath, he told her he should probably go to the hospital. Two days later, Dr. S took my dad to the cath lab to see if he had any occlusions. We were updated an hour later that they had trouble getting good access to his heart due to tortuous vessels. About 1.5 hours later, Dr. S came out and said they were able to stent the proximal part of his RCA but did not get flow to the distal area. He did explain that he had an additional cardiologist come and give him a hand because of his tortuous, calcified arteries.
My dad had ST elevation during the case and he wanted him to go to ICU to be observed closely. When his ICU RN came out to talk with us, she told us he was having a lot of pain and ST elevation. Dr. S came and updated us again and we chose to make my dad a DNR. As an RN, I have cared for many sick patients and know how quickly one’s outward appearance can change, but it took my breath to see my dad so pale, gasping for breath, and in so much pain. Tearfully, we told them to keep him comfortable and we would stay with him.
A short time later, a smiling nurse walked in and happily said “E, how are you doing?” I told her about his chest pain and ST elevation and that we had made him comfort care. She introduced herself as Lisa, E’s cath lab nurse, and told us he didn't look like that when he left cath lab. She left to check on something and less than 10 minutes later, Dr. S came and told me he would like to take another look. I said okay, but expressed we wanted to keep him comfortable.
A little over an hour later, Dr. S came and gave us a thumbs-up, and explained that a large thrombus had formed. They were able to remove the clot and place an additional two stents. When he walked away, we both knew Lisa must have said something and advocated for our dad. In our hearts, we know she saved his life. She told us when she brought him back to ICU she had felt a connection with E when she first met him. Lisa was truly his guardian angel! We are so thankful you were on call that day!
When the pain was in his chest with shortness of breath, he told her he should probably go to the hospital. Two days later, Dr. S took my dad to the cath lab to see if he had any occlusions. We were updated an hour later that they had trouble getting good access to his heart due to tortuous vessels. About 1.5 hours later, Dr. S came out and said they were able to stent the proximal part of his RCA but did not get flow to the distal area. He did explain that he had an additional cardiologist come and give him a hand because of his tortuous, calcified arteries.
My dad had ST elevation during the case and he wanted him to go to ICU to be observed closely. When his ICU RN came out to talk with us, she told us he was having a lot of pain and ST elevation. Dr. S came and updated us again and we chose to make my dad a DNR. As an RN, I have cared for many sick patients and know how quickly one’s outward appearance can change, but it took my breath to see my dad so pale, gasping for breath, and in so much pain. Tearfully, we told them to keep him comfortable and we would stay with him.
A short time later, a smiling nurse walked in and happily said “E, how are you doing?” I told her about his chest pain and ST elevation and that we had made him comfort care. She introduced herself as Lisa, E’s cath lab nurse, and told us he didn't look like that when he left cath lab. She left to check on something and less than 10 minutes later, Dr. S came and told me he would like to take another look. I said okay, but expressed we wanted to keep him comfortable.
A little over an hour later, Dr. S came and gave us a thumbs-up, and explained that a large thrombus had formed. They were able to remove the clot and place an additional two stents. When he walked away, we both knew Lisa must have said something and advocated for our dad. In our hearts, we know she saved his life. She told us when she brought him back to ICU she had felt a connection with E when she first met him. Lisa was truly his guardian angel! We are so thankful you were on call that day!