I was at work, thinking I just had a case of bad reflux. When I experienced pain in my left arm and jaw, I drove myself to the ED at Kings Mills Hospital. It was determined that I was having a cardiac event and that I was to be transferred to West Hospital to the ICU. When I arrived in the ICU, Nurse Decker was very attentive and concerned for my health. She asked multiple questions and listened carefully to my answers. In today’s world, many people go through the motions at work and perform their duties so they can meet the minimum requirements, nothing more. That was not the case with Nurse Decker.

When I was placed on an EKG, Nurse Decker noticed a ventricular spike, and that the spike was becoming more frequent. At 2:30 a.m., she notified the doctor, and the on-call catheter team performed an emergency catheterization. After the procedure, the cardiac doctor told me that my left anterior descending artery, “the widow maker,” was 100% blocked.

I have no doubt that were it not for Nurse Decker’s diligence and dedication to her profession, I would not be here to write this letter. I believe Nurse Decker exemplifies what an RN should strive to be. My wife and I thank God that he placed me in her care, for her attention to detail saved my life.