My girlfriend had a tonic-clonic seizure at home. In addition, she had a severe headache, so I brought her immediately to the SASH ED. She was quickly brought into an ED room, and Adrienne Boland was assigned to be her nurse.

Adrienne got her situated, took a health history, and listened carefully to both my girlfriend's and my description of what led us to come to the ED. Adrienne and the staff were very empathetic and quickly assessed her condition. Adrienne did an NIHSS and neurological exam on my girlfriend right away while I was in the room. Shortly thereafter, Adrienne asked her if she could provide a urine sample in the bathroom down the hall. My girlfriend thought that, yes, she would be able to do that. While in the bathroom with Adrienne, she had another seizure and lost control of her body. Adrienne kept her safe and lowered her to the floor while calling for help.

My girlfriend was helped back into the patient room, and Adrienne continued to do neurological assessments on her. Adrienne noticed that she began to have unilateral neurological deficits, and a stroke alert was called. After a head CT was completed, it became apparent that my girlfriend needed a higher level of care, and Flight for Life support was requested to send her to SAH via helicopter. Adrienne and the team quickly started a Heparin drip on my girlfriend before she was transferred. I am convinced that the care Adrienne and the rest of the ED staff gave to my girlfriend that day may have saved her life and definitely arrested the progression of her illness. Bravo Adrienne!