In August of 2015, I had to make the decision to put my mother in a nursing home, due to health issues. At the age of 83, she had dementia, heart issues, diabetes, and high blood pressure. In the past 2 ½ years we have made a few trips to the ER in the middle of the night. Each time, we had the honor of having Dalton as my mother's nurse. My mother thought he was just the sweetest person and liked him taking care of her because they shared the same last name. (She knew they had to be kin somehow). Dalton provided excellent care to my mother and was very compassionate. He made sure my husband and I had everything we needed and updated us as often as possible.
Recently, I received a call from the nursing home saying they thought my mother was having or had a stroke. No one is prepared for a call of that kind, especially in the early morning. We rushed to the hospital to meet the ambulance, not knowing the extent of her condition. We were hoping that she arrived in time to receive the reversal medication. What a blessing it was to see Dalton, and the ER physician already treating my mother.
We were taken to a private waiting room and given frequent updates. About an hour later, we were told that yes, it was a stroke. She would not be a candidate for the reversal drug due to the timeline.
Mom was moved to ICU, where she received wonderful care from the staff. The neurologist explained that Mom's brain was starting to swell, and she was having small bleeds. He discussed several options, and what would be occurring over the next 24-48 hours. It was at this time, we made the decision to keep my mother comfortable. The physician proceeded to find a private room, where we could all be together with her until the Lord called her home. Two days later, Mom passed and entered the gates of heaven. As we were having our last moments with her and waiting for the funeral home to pick her up, we heard a knock at the door. As the door slowly opened, it was none other than Dalton, and the same ER physician coming to pay their respects. They had kept up with Mom's condition each night.
Some would say that it was just a coincidence that Dalton was our ER nurse over the past years. I beg to differ. I truly believe the Lord put Dalton in touch with us because he knew there would be a time when we would need him more than ever. Dalton is a great young man who shows compassion and concern for others. I am sure in today's world working in the ER, can be challenging and stressful at times. Thank you, Dalton, for your compassionate care when we needed it most.