MICU office would like to recognize Alex Fuston for her compassionate nature and for stepping up to assist a patient and their family during a difficult time. It was first brought to our attention when several staff members, crossing multiple professions, recognized Alex for an act of love and kindness. We had a young patient on our unit who was not doing well. He was on multiple forms of life support and had already coded. Fearing the end, his wife went back to their hotel to retrieve the patient’s mother and their children. When they all returned, they discussed that our patient was very likely on the verge of coding again, and the prognosis was very poor. As a family, they discussed what he would have wanted, and all agreed to let him pass. The wife asked the nurse if someone could pray over her husband because the family was very religious and needed the peace that would come with it.

One staff member wrote in a Manage Up, "Alex went above and beyond for a patient and their family. A family was going through a tough decision, debating whether to proceed with comfort measures. After they came to a decision, the family requested a chaplain. The chaplain would be a while before they could get here. So, Alex took the initiative to pray over the patient and his family. Alex was very considerate, and her small action made the biggest difference."

Another wrote, “Because of Alex's compassion she showed this family, the family was provided peace and comfort on this difficult day. Thank you, Alex!”

Other staff members also wanted to praise and recognize Alex’s contribution to our unit, our patients, and the other staff members she assists every shift.

From Alex, “I was charging and told the HUC to contact the house supervisor to see if there was any way we could get a priest up on the unit as soon as possible because the patient was close to dying. I was aware of how unlikely it was to get a priest up on the unit in the middle of the night because of limited resources and previous attempts with other patients. I decided to practice reading some scripture and praying just in case.” She goes on to say, “…I stayed by his side with the wife and mother to read scriptures and prayer and then said my own prayer over him. The family then let him pass peacefully after this was done. They were grateful and understood that he was at peace after this.”

Thank you, Alex, for the kind-hearted words and compassionate care that you provide every day.