Courtney Mueller
September 2023
Courtney
Mueller
,
RN
Emergency Room
Watertown Regional Medical Center
Watertown
,
WI
United States
Courtney encouraged us to talk to and touch him before he left, and she let us watch him get loaded into the helicopter and then watch as it disappeared into the sunrise. For such a devastatingly scary event, it was beautiful.
My 66-year-old husband stopped breathing at the home of our second daughter, who called 911 immediately. I had just seen him briefly at noon, and I heard he had a wonderful day traveling to Watertown with his grandkids. The six EMTs who came super-fast had to restart his heart and get his breathing started before delivering him to Watertown Regional Medical Center. When I finally got there, I met Courtney. Even though he would eventually be airlifted to Milwaukee and spend two more days attached to life sustaining apparatus, he had probably already experienced significant brain injury he could not recover from. He would end up leaving my side to go meet his Lord and Saviour with all five of my children surrounding him in the early hours of Monday and signing the hymn "Amazing Grace." But back in Watertown, although the doctors seemed to have an inkling of the seriousness of his condition, I am so impressed with how Courtney treated us. She seemed genuinely stricken by our plight but also somehow exuded hopefulness. Her smile and bright face encouraged us to share things about L, and she explained everything they had to do to prepare him for the airlift to Milwaukee. She encouraged us to talk to and touch him before he left, and she let us watch him get loaded into the helicopter and then watch as it disappeared into the sunrise. For such a devastatingly scary event, it was beautiful. I imagined him already going to heaven. When we came back in, Courtney again surrounded us with empathy and answered all our questions. My daughter has lived in Watertown for 16 or so years. How blessed she is to live in a town with such professional and kind healthcare workers as we experienced in Courtney and other staff as well.
***
Courtney was my dad's nurse when he came into the ER. She was so good at explaining everything she knew about his current status and also let us know what care he could be receiving. Once we knew he needed to be transferred she advocated for us and him the whole time. She was patient with our endless questions and ensured all of my family members were informed and cared for. She worked hard to get my dad transferred to another hospital, and when he was med flighted. She allowed us to take a video of him flying away, which meant so much to our family. Even after he left the hospital, she continued to make sure that we were clear on the new hospital rules and that we had everything we needed to be able to take care of him once he left Watertown. We knew from the very start that my dad was in good hands and that Courtney genuinely cared about doing everything she could to help him and take care of us emotionally as a family.
***
It's hard for me to put into words what Courtney did for us and meant to us when my father-in-law went into the ER at midnight after having his breathing and heart stopped at our home. She was incredibly kind, empathetic, and so helpful with our many questions as we were there at that very hard time in the ER. She was always there for us and was ready to help us in any way she could. She advocated for my father-in-law and helped my wife and I as we were there alone and wondering if he would make it. I don't know what we would have done that night without her professionalism and support. We were very blessed to have her. Thank You, Courtney!
***
Courtney was my dad's nurse when he came into the ER. She was so good at explaining everything she knew about his current status and also let us know what care he could be receiving. Once we knew he needed to be transferred she advocated for us and him the whole time. She was patient with our endless questions and ensured all of my family members were informed and cared for. She worked hard to get my dad transferred to another hospital, and when he was med flighted. She allowed us to take a video of him flying away, which meant so much to our family. Even after he left the hospital, she continued to make sure that we were clear on the new hospital rules and that we had everything we needed to be able to take care of him once he left Watertown. We knew from the very start that my dad was in good hands and that Courtney genuinely cared about doing everything she could to help him and take care of us emotionally as a family.
***
It's hard for me to put into words what Courtney did for us and meant to us when my father-in-law went into the ER at midnight after having his breathing and heart stopped at our home. She was incredibly kind, empathetic, and so helpful with our many questions as we were there at that very hard time in the ER. She was always there for us and was ready to help us in any way she could. She advocated for my father-in-law and helped my wife and I as we were there alone and wondering if he would make it. I don't know what we would have done that night without her professionalism and support. We were very blessed to have her. Thank You, Courtney!