I had a first-time hospitalization. I was extremely frightened, fearful of all procedures and very apprehensive. After 3 days of no sleep, continuous unrelieved headache and nausea, and inability to eat I had a heart cath. Post-op I was cared for by RN, Gilda Laguardia. I'm ashamed to admit I was a truly horrible, verbally abusive patient to my nurse. Having lost all aspects of control over my life while in the hospital, I took out my fears, anger, and frustration on a truly angelic caregiver.
Gilda never wavered her kind careful treatment of me. Despite my continuous verbal rampages, Gilda persisted in doing her job in my post-op recovery, trying to allay my fears, teaching and re-assuring me continuously. Her dedication, superior nursing skills, and work ethic are unparalleled. I truly believe if she hadn't cared for me in the manner she did I would have had an MI, CVA or some neuro event. At the end of my recovery, I experienced some "weird" neuro symptoms (visual) and felt God had stepped in to make me shut my mouth. Prior to discharge I apologized to Gilda and being the exceptional person she is she hugged me with a few good words of wisdom and kindness. I just wanted you to acknowledge her and to know what a truly kind and loving nurse she is. If I had my nursing career to live over, I would want to be the kind of nurse that Gilda is.