Chris Riveria
April 2023
Chris
Riveria
,
RN
East 4
Covenant Medical Center
Lubbock
,
TX
United States
From the moment he came on duty, he listened to us, asked questions, and guided us through every step of what he was going to do to help B and not only make him comfortable but ensure he was okay…all while staying calm and giving us peace.
My 48-year-old brother has been a patient at Covenant in the SICU for over 4 weeks now. B was airlifted in March when all our lives were turned upside down. It has been an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. This entire process has been scary and overwhelming and each of us is struggling to understand and deal with the reality of where we are today, and the direction things might go. He was brought in with a brain bleed, stoke and it was determined his tumors were melanoma.
Two days after admission, he underwent his first brain surgery to remove 3 tumors and then 2 weeks later was rushed in for his second brain surgery to remove another tumor which had grown and was bleeding. We’ve had many amazing nurses that have helped not only B but have shown us a level of compassion I never understood until now. And I appreciate all who have cared for B and our entire family, but Chris had been our true angel! How do you thank someone (a nurse specifically) who has saved your brother’s life? There are no words!! Chris was our nurse the night we knew something seemed “off”. From the moment he came on duty, he listened to us, asked questions, and guided us through every step of what he was going to do to help B and not only make him comfortable but ensure he was okay…all while staying calm and giving us peace. It was like he held B’s hand and our hearts at the same time. Through everything, Chris patiently explained things to us, sometimes more than once, until we got it or had time to let it set in. Chris prepared us for the worst but helped us plan for the best and was there the entire time for us!
We’ve trusted all our nurses, but Chris gave us (my sister-in-law more so) the confidence to leave the hospital at night while he was on duty to get some much-needed rest. Chris obviously cares deeply for B, and I feel like he’s part of our family now. We hugged him hello and goodbye and will be sad to say our final goodbye but have faith that B will be able to come back to say Thank You soon. Every day his knowledge, skills, and just simple compassion and care were evident.
When I say he saved B’s life, it’s no exaggeration!! Because of his listening and concern for B, he insisted that a CT was completed, and from there, we found the tumor and bleed and without Chris, we would have lost B that night. Chris stood out as a nurse willing and able to go beyond the normal call of duty. There are people in this world whom you meet and never forget…Chris has made an impact on us; he is one we will never forget! Anyone who doesn’t believe in superheroes has never met Chris!
Two days after admission, he underwent his first brain surgery to remove 3 tumors and then 2 weeks later was rushed in for his second brain surgery to remove another tumor which had grown and was bleeding. We’ve had many amazing nurses that have helped not only B but have shown us a level of compassion I never understood until now. And I appreciate all who have cared for B and our entire family, but Chris had been our true angel! How do you thank someone (a nurse specifically) who has saved your brother’s life? There are no words!! Chris was our nurse the night we knew something seemed “off”. From the moment he came on duty, he listened to us, asked questions, and guided us through every step of what he was going to do to help B and not only make him comfortable but ensure he was okay…all while staying calm and giving us peace. It was like he held B’s hand and our hearts at the same time. Through everything, Chris patiently explained things to us, sometimes more than once, until we got it or had time to let it set in. Chris prepared us for the worst but helped us plan for the best and was there the entire time for us!
We’ve trusted all our nurses, but Chris gave us (my sister-in-law more so) the confidence to leave the hospital at night while he was on duty to get some much-needed rest. Chris obviously cares deeply for B, and I feel like he’s part of our family now. We hugged him hello and goodbye and will be sad to say our final goodbye but have faith that B will be able to come back to say Thank You soon. Every day his knowledge, skills, and just simple compassion and care were evident.
When I say he saved B’s life, it’s no exaggeration!! Because of his listening and concern for B, he insisted that a CT was completed, and from there, we found the tumor and bleed and without Chris, we would have lost B that night. Chris stood out as a nurse willing and able to go beyond the normal call of duty. There are people in this world whom you meet and never forget…Chris has made an impact on us; he is one we will never forget! Anyone who doesn’t believe in superheroes has never met Chris!