I was admitted to MICU after being in a motorcycle accident that left me with 7 broken ribs, a broken scapula, a punctured lung, and a broken toe. I was in bad shape and in severe pain. It hurt to breathe, sleep, eat, or move. I was a mess.
Alisha has this incredible balance of sweet southern charm, mixed with a touch of toughness and commanding competence, and then a wonderful sense of humor. Every time I moved the pain took my breath away. The amazing balance I mentioned Alisha has relates to how encouraging, compassionate, and positive she was while getting me to do the impossible - to move around, sit up, take x-rays, eat, etc.
She understood exactly what I was going through and how hard to push me without going too far. She asked a million times - 'on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you ever felt, what number pain level are you?' She was just the right amount of everything that my 'situation' required. Her deep experience and true self showed as well.
There is a funny thing about being in that much pain and being so beat up, you would think that the physical recovery would be the most difficult part but it's not! As I lay in that hospital bed, I found it difficult to overcome the mental trauma of being injured. I re-lived the motorcycle accident in my head a hundred times, I worried about my recovery, the stress on my family, and how quickly could I get back to work.
Then, as if on cue, Alisha would make her rounds, make me as comfortable as possible, have all positive things to say, and joke around. In her own confident way, she let me know that everything was going to be alright. Lifting me up psychologically was just as important as a recovery step as the medical care she was providing me. She was definitely heaven-sent, and I can't thank her enough. Please understand, Alisha made all the difference to me and my stay at WakeMed without evening knowing it. I'm truly thankful for her.