Lyle Paxton Ross
May 2025
Lyle Paxton
Ross
,
RN
Operating Room
Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge
,
LA
United States
It wasn’t an easy task, yet he remained professional, focused, and calm. He offered a quick, logical problem solution while considering safety throughout.
On Christmas Day 2024, Nurse Paxton Ross gave of his time in the pouring rain to a stranger in distress (me) on the Interstate highway. He spotted the unsafe situation and responded immediately to prevent a potential accident. His extraordinary actions were selfless and are worthy of recognition with the DAISY Award.
Christmas morning, I was driving through heavy rain on Interstate 10 from New Orleans to visit my family north of Baton Rouge. About 40 miles into my trip, my vehicle began making a very loud noise, and I immediately pulled to the shoulder of the Interstate. I observed that a metal part had come loose underneath my car and was dragging along the road. I knew I needed a tow truck.
Next, I see a white truck pull off to the interstate shoulder just ahead of me. A gentleman gets out of his truck, asking if I needed assistance. I explained the situation, and he offered to take a look at the problem. He then offered a temporary fix to secure the dragging metal (my catalytic converter) so I could continue on my trip. He also introduced himself as a nurse, employed at Surgical Specialty Center in Baton Rouge, and named Paxton.
For safety reasons, before the temporary fix, I notified my brother of the situation, and he was then en route to my location. Paxton and I agreed to each drive about 4/10th of a mile to the next Interstate exit, where the passing traffic would be less threatening. There was a semi-dry patch of ground just off the road for him to work, and he found nearby a scrap piece of plastic sheeting to use as a ground cover, plus a piece of wood to prop up the dragging, and hot, catalytic converter. Mother Nature also helped out by stopping the rain. It was all quite convenient.
With wire and wire cutters from his truck, and with only one arm extended under my small car, he worked surgical wonders to raise and secure the converter several inches above the ground. Once completed, he brushed off the ants that covered him and offered to wait with me until my brother arrived. Not wanting to take any more of his Christmas day, I declined his offer. He then suggested I drive just ahead to a U-turn so my brother could easily meet up with me on the highway.
Nurse Paxton Ross saved my Christmas with my family. He was my Christmas Day Angel that I’ll never forget. It wasn’t an easy task, yet he remained professional, focused, and calm. He offered a quick, logical problem solution while considering safety throughout. Wow! And how fortunate for Surgical Specialty Center to have such a talented and versatile nurse on its staff! Please recognize his actions.
Christmas morning, I was driving through heavy rain on Interstate 10 from New Orleans to visit my family north of Baton Rouge. About 40 miles into my trip, my vehicle began making a very loud noise, and I immediately pulled to the shoulder of the Interstate. I observed that a metal part had come loose underneath my car and was dragging along the road. I knew I needed a tow truck.
Next, I see a white truck pull off to the interstate shoulder just ahead of me. A gentleman gets out of his truck, asking if I needed assistance. I explained the situation, and he offered to take a look at the problem. He then offered a temporary fix to secure the dragging metal (my catalytic converter) so I could continue on my trip. He also introduced himself as a nurse, employed at Surgical Specialty Center in Baton Rouge, and named Paxton.
For safety reasons, before the temporary fix, I notified my brother of the situation, and he was then en route to my location. Paxton and I agreed to each drive about 4/10th of a mile to the next Interstate exit, where the passing traffic would be less threatening. There was a semi-dry patch of ground just off the road for him to work, and he found nearby a scrap piece of plastic sheeting to use as a ground cover, plus a piece of wood to prop up the dragging, and hot, catalytic converter. Mother Nature also helped out by stopping the rain. It was all quite convenient.
With wire and wire cutters from his truck, and with only one arm extended under my small car, he worked surgical wonders to raise and secure the converter several inches above the ground. Once completed, he brushed off the ants that covered him and offered to wait with me until my brother arrived. Not wanting to take any more of his Christmas day, I declined his offer. He then suggested I drive just ahead to a U-turn so my brother could easily meet up with me on the highway.
Nurse Paxton Ross saved my Christmas with my family. He was my Christmas Day Angel that I’ll never forget. It wasn’t an easy task, yet he remained professional, focused, and calm. He offered a quick, logical problem solution while considering safety throughout. Wow! And how fortunate for Surgical Specialty Center to have such a talented and versatile nurse on its staff! Please recognize his actions.