February 2024
Cindy J
Gallo
,
RN (AAS)
Emergency Department
AdventHealth Winter Garden
Winter Garden
,
FL
United States
Cindy really stepped up and helped save my life
I was in desperate need of medical attention and I didn't have health insurance, but my health came to a point where I was forced to visit the local emergency room for treatment. I immediately was cared for by an ER nurse by the name of Cindy Gallo. I was extremely nervous and concerned as I had difficulty breathing and didn't know what to expect from the hospital in regard to being treated without medical health insurance. Cindy immediately told me not to worry and that she promises I will get all of the medical attention that I need and not to worry about any bills at this time as my life is more important. I remember seeing staff coming in and out of the medical room with a concerned look in their eyes. Cindy was keeping me focused by talking to me about her family and continued to make jokes about anything and everything to help keep me relaxed. The health care team ordered me to have an ultrasound, but it wasn't able to give real results due to my sizable abdomen as at the time I didn't realize that I did indeed have a 42 cm 100+ lb tumor. Cindy then told me that I needed to have an CT scan so the staff could get a better look at me as just prior to this request the hospital triggered an audible possible sepsis alert. Cindy wheeled me into the CT scan and upon trying to take the test I couldn't lay on my back due to my size, and I also couldn't breathe, so I outright refused the test. This is where I feel Cindy really stepped up and helped save my life, as she became very firm with me and said, "we really need to perform this test as it's extremely important in getting the information to help us understand what is going on with you". I was still extremely scared as I knew I couldn't handle the fact that I couldn't breathe in a laydown position. Cindy then said, "I promise you I will hold your hand the entire time and won't leave your side as you have to have this test done." I then agreed to allow this test and Cindy as promised never left my side the entire time. I was then notified by the results that I needed to be admitted and Cindy said she would visit me the next day. I didn't realize that my medical health was so poor that through the night the hospital was making arrangements for me to be transported to the main campus of AdventHealth Orlando as they felt that my treatment plan would be best handled by the doctors at this location. I feel this is the area where Cindy is deserving of a DAISY Award as the next day I received a phone call in my room from Cindy who on her own tracked me down in the new hospital and my room to see how I was doing and what was going on as she had originally promised me to check-in the next day while I was at AdventHealth Winter Garden. I explained to Cindy that I am actually going to have 2 major surgeries the next morning, one being the removal of my tumor and the other a total hysterectomy and she wished me well. I then found out from my husband that the next day Cindy called me again to see how I was and how the surgery went and I was shocked to find this out as she owed me nothing and had no reason to have to reach out to me. She called me 2 days later to see how I was feeling and then told me that she lives near me and that if I am in need of anything to please contact her and she provided me with her cell phone number. Cindy has continued to reach out to me to see how I was feeling and was polite enough to help me with some questions that popped up during my recovery period to help put my mind at ease.