I was admitted to the DCH ER with what turned out to be a perforated ulcer in my abdomen.  I was quickly rushed into surgery, and I awoke in the TSICU. From the moment I stumbled into the ER, the service I received was immediate, compassionate, critical, and of the utmost professionalism, from the guard who assisted me at the door, the staff at the admission counter, the nurses, the doctors, attendants, nutritionists, interns, physical therapists, food servers, all the way to the housekeeper who cheerily greeted me every day as she worked to clean my room. As difficult of an experience this entire situation has been physically and mentally for me, I do not have the words to express how impressed I am with the entire DCH team for making this ordeal as smooth, painless-as-possible, comforting, and endurable. For that, you will forever have my eternal gratitude.

However, there is one person who shined above all to me throughout this entire experience in her delivery of care, sympathy, kindness, humanity, compassion, dedication, dignity, honesty, respect, and fervent devotion to her responsibilities and tireless work ethic. That person is TSICU Nurse Andria Billups.

I am no stranger to spending time as a patient in hospitals. Never in all my medical challenges have I had an experience like the one I had with Nurse Andria. I was in the ICU for 4 days, every one of which Nurse Andria was there from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, or at least those are the times I saw her tirelessly working and never stopping…I would not be at all surprised if she was there working even longer hours beyond my sight. She was consistently pleasant and personable, always making me feel welcome and relaxed, respected and dignified, never a burden or an imposition, no matter how awkward a situation may occur, as I am sure you can imagine in such a situation as was mine. My parents came down from North Carolina to stay and keep watch while I was in the ICU. Nurse Andria treated them with the same warmth and hospitality as she did every other person with whom I saw her interact, always checking in on them as well as myself to ensure we were in need of nothing. 

During my stay in the ICU, I had the opportunity to observe Nurse Andria in her role as a teacher, working closely with undergraduate and graduate interns. Nurse Andria would bring these interns into my room, introduce them to me, tell me a little bit about them, and then respectfully ask if I would allow them to work on me under her guidance, of which I was most certainly delighted to approve. I have with rare exception witnessed in a teacher the patience and diligence with which Nurse Andria devotes her attention to educating her interns, always walking them through each step, demonstrating when needed, answering questions with concern and compassion, and making sure to explain the information necessary until the interns fully understood the issue/procedure at hand. Nurse Andria teaches through example and instills in her students the confidence, determination, and resolve that she demonstrates in her own professional practice every minute of the day, and then shows them how to come back and do it all over again with fresh eyes and positive attitudes.

In addition to student interns, I paid particular note to how frequently other staff in the ICU came to Nurse Andria with questions. I watched them discuss and debate possible solutions, and then collaboratively determine what steps to take in the most efficient manner possible. All the while, Nurse Andria never once stopped working on her obligations and paying full attention to her patients, at least that is according to my experience and what I observed from my vantage point.

Above all, I feel compelled to speak on behalf of the true humility and sincere humanity I experienced during my time with Nurse Andria. Beyond all her professional demeanor and acumen, Nurse Andria spoke to me. She was always working, checking on everything and everyone, taking care of business. Yet in doing so, she spoke to me. We talked about life, people, challenge, dedication, careers, caring, and doing things that seem important even when no one else seems to think so. I once said that I had no idea how she manages to deal with all the things she sees that come through the ICU, or how she possibly is able to maintain such a positive and inspiring attitude regardless of what is put before her. Her response was a beautiful smile, unconsciously so I believe, and the words, spoken in a solemn, quiet voice, “Sometimes, neither do I. It just seems like I need to”. That answer will forever live in my heart and in my soul. 

I hope that you see in Nurse Andria the same incredibly amazing attributes as have I and that it be recognized how vastly important a team member she truly is to have on the DCH ICU team.