Faith Chibulunje
September 2024
Faith
Chibulunje
,
RN
8E - Surgical ICU
Upstate University Hospital Health System
Syracuse
,
NY
United States

 

 

 

I remember seeing Faith for the first time, and even though I was in shock and most likely had a mini concussion, I felt this sense of calmness that someone was there to help me.
Driving to work on my motorcycle around 6:40 am, I had a low telephone or power wire hanging low enough that I couldn't duck under it. By the time I saw the black wire, it was 3 inches in front of me and the only thing that went through my mind is this is going to happen. It was dark out. I was following a car, and I remember there were cars behind me. The car directly behind me was Faith, when she witnessed me get ripped from my motorcycle. I was knocked unconscious, so when I came to, I remember traffic behind me and started shooting myself out of the road and over to the sidewalk. I remember seeing Faith for the first time, and even though I was in shock and most likely had a mini concussion, I felt this sense of calmness that someone was there to help me. It was then that I took my helmet off and assessed my surroundings. My bike was two houses down the road, and I remember Faith saying she called the ambulance and they were on their way. I remember thanking her for helping me and seeing that the clothing she was wearing looked like a nurse's uniform, but I don't remember talking to her again outside on the sidewalk.

As fate would have it, I would run into my guardian angel again when I was moved upstairs to 8E. Faith told her coworkers about what happened earlier that morning, and one of her friends let her know that she thought that the motorcycle driver might be the person the emergency room was bringing upstairs to their department. My sister and her husband came up to see me, and I told them that a young woman was there to help me. She looked like she was wearing a nurse outfit. About 5 minutes later, I would learn my guardian angel’s name (Faith). As soon as I saw her, I said, “Were you my guardian angel?” and she started to fill me in with what she witnessed and encountered with our interaction. I guess I said to her that I'm J, and if you need a doctor's excuse for work, I can get you one. I don't remember saying this to her. She said that she was wondering what threw me off the motorcycle, as she approached me, she said she almost walked into the wire as well. She went on to say that she is short, and she had to duck under the wire hanging across the road. I wanted to give her a hug, but I knew I was in no condition to move like that. I remember thanking her over and over. She said that as she drove to the hospital, she thought to herself that I was worried about her getting into trouble at work and offering a doctor's excuse even though I couldn't produce one for her. I did ask a nurse taking care of me if Faith got docked or in trouble for being late for work. He said no, she was fine. It was brought to my attention that after saying I wished I could let her bosses know about her emergency response to my accident, this person said I could fill out a staff nomination form, so here I am. By the way, she used her car as a barrier between me and the other cars behind me. Very smart thinking to protect me in the middle of the road.

I would really appreciate it if you would recognize Faith Chibulunje for being the kind of employee that this hospital has to represent in the community. I can only imagine that Faith told the cops and paramedic some information about the accident because I don't remember talking to the cops and very little to the paramedic. But I do remember Faith and feeling safe knowing she was there for me. Thanks again, Faith. You are a great woman, and I wish the best for you.