Patrick J Essex
December 2023
Patrick J
Essex
,
RN
Outpatient Infusion area
Parkview Family Cancer Institute
Fort Wayne
,
IN
United States
They were professional and so caring and brought me back to the world - which I am not ready to leave yet.
On June 28, I was having my regular chemo. About 1/2 hour into it I had an extraordinary "hot flash" from head to feet. Patrick noticed something right away, came to my chair, and asked me questions about it. I said "Something weird" happened, but I had to use the restroom. He went with me and was by the door. When I washed my hands they went "tingly." I was shaky. He helped me to my chair and by then I had turned red (head, neck, and ears) and was breaking out in hives. Patrick immediately called for help and they began procedures for anaphylaxis - stopping the IV oxaliplatin, flushing lines, giving Benedryl while constantly talking to me, and assessing my "spots" which were full body by then. They contacted Dr. Johnson's office and explained to me what was going on monitoring me closely and being so reassuring and calm. Then my tongue began to swell and Patrick used the EPI pen and within a while, I was back to almost normal. Because of the way Patrick was right on noticing the problem and the way the team worked together, I wasn't afraid and am so grateful for how that potentially bad situation was handled. They were professional and so caring and brought me back to the world - which I am not ready to leave yet.