Felistas Mbatia
June 2023
Felistas
Mbatia
,
RN
Med/Surg
Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center
Walnut Creek
,
CA
United States
I cannot understate how profound and positive my response was to that first cup of tea offered by my dear Felistas. When combined with her soothing voice and obvious technical competence, I finally broke out of my nightmare.
I wish to nominate Felistas Mbatia for a DAISY Award in consideration of an exceptionally good experience during my recent hospitalization. I was admitted with lingering symptoms of diverticulitis and underwent a bowel resection a couple days later. My recovery was not progressing, and I had a second brief surgery later in the week. A week later, I was completely miserable: Constant, hourly diarrhea, bloating, and especially constant nausea and vomiting despite regular doses of Zofran and an NG drain. This had been going on for a very long time. Also, I was NPO now for 9 days, having only ice chips, which instantly came back up. My recovery was totally stalled, and nobody seemed to have an answer other than, "It just takes time." I was at the end of my rope.
On that day my nurse had been the delightful and most helpful Felistas. She came to me as her shift ended and said, "Your next nurse is Felistas. She's been a nurse forever, and she's really, really good. I think you'll like her." I had never heard such a glowing introduction from a peer nurse. Surely something positive must be about to happen. Lord, I hope so.
My wife joined me around 11:00 am. In walks Felistas, a striking woman from Tanzania (we talked about where she hailed from after I identified her Tanzanite ring.) Her voice was very calm and reassuring, but she took a serious note when she saw my ongoing distress. She gave a little speech to the effect, "People have been fasting for thousands of years. There are special things that they would do when coming off a fast that were beneficial. You are fasting now. Perhaps we can try something." Felistas suggested hot tea, ginger tea, to be specific. At this time, I was so desperate for relief from nausea that I would have tried battery acid. So, at noon, I began to sip my tea. I finished half the cup over 20 min and felt just fine. An hour or so later, another cup. And another later on. That was the end of my nausea! My wife proclaimed it a miracle, and I agree 100%. From that moment on, my recovery was in forward motion.
So, what actually happened? Felistas has documented anti-nausea properties known to ancients and moderns alike but apparently ignored by professional medicine. A warm drink is far less shocking than swallowing ice, and yet I was only served the latter. The power of suggestion, in the face of patient desperation, is a powerful force. Maybe it really was a miracle, and God had put His hand upon me. Or maybe it was just the wisdom of (RN) and her willingness to violate my official NPO status. What's important to me is that she offered my cure. Nobody else did. And in fact, I was denied any more tea for 1.5 days after her shift because I was NPO. Ignorance!
I cannot understate how profound and positive my response was to that first cup of tea offered by my dear Felistas. When combined with her soothing voice and obvious technical competence, I finally broke out of my nightmare. Thank you, thank you, Nurse Felistas, you are a true credit to your profession.
On that day my nurse had been the delightful and most helpful Felistas. She came to me as her shift ended and said, "Your next nurse is Felistas. She's been a nurse forever, and she's really, really good. I think you'll like her." I had never heard such a glowing introduction from a peer nurse. Surely something positive must be about to happen. Lord, I hope so.
My wife joined me around 11:00 am. In walks Felistas, a striking woman from Tanzania (we talked about where she hailed from after I identified her Tanzanite ring.) Her voice was very calm and reassuring, but she took a serious note when she saw my ongoing distress. She gave a little speech to the effect, "People have been fasting for thousands of years. There are special things that they would do when coming off a fast that were beneficial. You are fasting now. Perhaps we can try something." Felistas suggested hot tea, ginger tea, to be specific. At this time, I was so desperate for relief from nausea that I would have tried battery acid. So, at noon, I began to sip my tea. I finished half the cup over 20 min and felt just fine. An hour or so later, another cup. And another later on. That was the end of my nausea! My wife proclaimed it a miracle, and I agree 100%. From that moment on, my recovery was in forward motion.
So, what actually happened? Felistas has documented anti-nausea properties known to ancients and moderns alike but apparently ignored by professional medicine. A warm drink is far less shocking than swallowing ice, and yet I was only served the latter. The power of suggestion, in the face of patient desperation, is a powerful force. Maybe it really was a miracle, and God had put His hand upon me. Or maybe it was just the wisdom of (RN) and her willingness to violate my official NPO status. What's important to me is that she offered my cure. Nobody else did. And in fact, I was denied any more tea for 1.5 days after her shift because I was NPO. Ignorance!
I cannot understate how profound and positive my response was to that first cup of tea offered by my dear Felistas. When combined with her soothing voice and obvious technical competence, I finally broke out of my nightmare. Thank you, thank you, Nurse Felistas, you are a true credit to your profession.