Natalja Leonard
November 2021
Natalja
Leonard
,
RN
Unit 50 Med/Surg
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Gove
,
IL
United States
Because Natalja had the intuition, knowledge, wisdom, experience that she has been graced with, the surgeons were able to remove two substantial clots.
I need to share this story with the entire hospital of GSAM. There is an angel on the 5th floor. She has the gift of grace, poise, and compassion. All fine qualities for a nurse but, Natalja is by far a unique individual with the knowledge and instinct for her profession.
Recently, my husband had an unfortunate accident - a crushed leg with 3 compound fractures and a crushed heel. After the surgeons did their magic meticulously putting him back together he was placed in the care of a group of skilled nurses and PCAs in Unit 50. Always seeing that my husband in his confused (medicated) state heard every prescription he was taking and why. Seeing to all his comfort and needs, as well as mind including my service dog.
Originally my husband was going to get a skin graft after his first surgery. The second was to remove dead skin and tissue and still the great care and concern shown every day to him by Natalja who went above and beyond. The third surgery was to start skin grafting and the plastic surgeon had bad news for us. There was poor circulation and no way to graft. The ortho Dr and he agreed, that amputation was the only way to go forward.
By this time two weeks have passed. As strong as my husband was he appeared it was the most frightening thing he had to face. It was by the grace of God, Natalja had been placed as his nurse for this when he returned from recovery. She tended to him as he was her only patient. Although he had no pain in the amputation, his other leg at the ankle was in pain and felt frozen. She came in touching the foot and leg asking questions. Trying to provide relief from the pain she returned what seemed to be every five minutes. She brought in a doppler and checked multiple places. She then called her charge nurse to double check her findings. The charge nurse "I agree Natalja, I hear no pulse". As if she did this second nature. She was on the phone calling all doctors involved and the surgeon who had just finished a 4 hour case, he returned and within an hour he had an ultrasound and was heading for yet another surgery. The second for that day.
He returned later that night to CCU, recovered, and went back to unit 50. Because Natalja had the intuition, knowledge, wisdom, experience that she has been graced with, the surgeons were able to remove two substantial clots in his uninjured leg with many other small clots in both and able to save his good leg, and what he has left of the amputated leg. Above all, she saved his life. There are no words to convey how she has been instrumental in our lives. She is priceless and one of a kind.
Recently, my husband had an unfortunate accident - a crushed leg with 3 compound fractures and a crushed heel. After the surgeons did their magic meticulously putting him back together he was placed in the care of a group of skilled nurses and PCAs in Unit 50. Always seeing that my husband in his confused (medicated) state heard every prescription he was taking and why. Seeing to all his comfort and needs, as well as mind including my service dog.
Originally my husband was going to get a skin graft after his first surgery. The second was to remove dead skin and tissue and still the great care and concern shown every day to him by Natalja who went above and beyond. The third surgery was to start skin grafting and the plastic surgeon had bad news for us. There was poor circulation and no way to graft. The ortho Dr and he agreed, that amputation was the only way to go forward.
By this time two weeks have passed. As strong as my husband was he appeared it was the most frightening thing he had to face. It was by the grace of God, Natalja had been placed as his nurse for this when he returned from recovery. She tended to him as he was her only patient. Although he had no pain in the amputation, his other leg at the ankle was in pain and felt frozen. She came in touching the foot and leg asking questions. Trying to provide relief from the pain she returned what seemed to be every five minutes. She brought in a doppler and checked multiple places. She then called her charge nurse to double check her findings. The charge nurse "I agree Natalja, I hear no pulse". As if she did this second nature. She was on the phone calling all doctors involved and the surgeon who had just finished a 4 hour case, he returned and within an hour he had an ultrasound and was heading for yet another surgery. The second for that day.
He returned later that night to CCU, recovered, and went back to unit 50. Because Natalja had the intuition, knowledge, wisdom, experience that she has been graced with, the surgeons were able to remove two substantial clots in his uninjured leg with many other small clots in both and able to save his good leg, and what he has left of the amputated leg. Above all, she saved his life. There are no words to convey how she has been instrumental in our lives. She is priceless and one of a kind.