December 2023
Dalania
Gastineau
,
RN, OSBN, AACN
ICU
St. Charles Health System, Bend
Bend
,
OR
United States
I was astonished by how they asked all the right questions, explained everything they did, and even went as far as inserting an IV in my husband's arm and tying up a saline bag to the overhead bin with a rope lent by a passenger.
My husband, T, had a medical incident that caused him to pass out and lose consciousness for a short period of time. Not knowing what had occurred, I pushed the "call" button for help from the flight crew. A flight attendant quickly arrived and made an announcement on the intercom requesting assistance from a doctor or nurse on board. We were blessed to find out our flight was carrying two nurses who were returning home from a conference: Dalania Gastineau, an ICU nurse at St. Charles Health in Bend, and L, an ED trauma nurse from Seattle. These two amazing women provided care to my husband without pause, and I wanted to write and express my sincere gratitude and appreciation. Once the announcement was made on the intercom on our flight, Dalania and L both sprang into action, attending to my husband while I, as our three children, looked on. They both assessed the situation quickly and maintained complete control. They shared several smiles and even managed to crack some jokes to alleviate some anxiety and ease our fears. I was astonished by how they asked all the right questions, explained everything they did, and even went as far as inserting an IV in my husband's arm and tying up a saline bag to the overhead bin with a rope lent by a passenger. Despite not having all the necessary supplies, they improvised and found a way to provide the care they desired to give. My husband was able to rest comfortably for the remainder of the flight. Dalania and L are exemplary nurses and restored my belief that there are loving, caring human beings in our world who see strangers as more than just people.