My mother had bypass surgery. She also had pulmonary hypertension. It took her a long time to get my mom off the ventilator. During the time I spent with "Nettie," I told her that my grandmother's name was Annette, but we called her "Nettie." From that point on, it seemed she and I were on the same page so far as the critical nature of my mother's health.
She was honest with me and never once gave us "medical speak." We spend hours discussing scenarios that I'd worry about and she would put me at ease with her perspectives and her caring for not only my mother's well-being but of my own well-being. Annette is an angel in scrubs. She is a beautiful, kind, patient person because I had a lot of questions. She took her time to explain all the medications, tubes, etc., and what they were helping my mother with.
Ten days later, my mother succumbed to her illness unexpectedly. Annette had been with another patient that day, as the doctors came into the ICU lounge to tell us what had happened. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Annette outside the lounge. She had tears in her eyes and when I saw her I looked in a face of tears. She knew my mother for a week, and she was sad that she lost a patient. But I believe through all of Annette's and my conversations, we developed and an understanding of each other. She would talk to me about her family and mine. She helped me through a very hard time. I'm sure nurses are taught to not get emotionally involved with their patients. In a way, we did together. She cared for my mother with the utmost respect and care. She turned and asked me if I was ok.
ANNETTE IS AN ANGEL. I thank her for her selflessness for taking the time to get to know her patient's son. Which is an experience I will never forget, not because my mother ultimately passed away, but because of how Annette treated me as a human being who was suffering watching his mother slip away.
Annette is truly an angel.