My son had Orthognathic surgery recently. Shortly after recovery, he was moved into an Intermediate Care Unit room where he would be monitored overnight, and if he was feeling well enough, he would be discharged to go home and recover the next day. Unfortunately, all did not go well that day. While my son was eating his puréed lunch, his heart stopped beating, and he flatlined. One of his nurses was already walking into the room as it started happening because she noticed that his pulse was dangerously low on the monitor in their nurses' station. She immediately told me to push the Code Blue button. Chest compressions were performed immediately and his heart started back up. Puzzled as to why this happened (he seemed very alert and tolerated coming out of anesthesia well), they moved my son into the Intensive Care Unit to run several tests and monitor him more closely. Moving units also meant having new nurses, but this nurse kept checking in on him and on us to see how we were all doing. When we were leaving that night for the mandatory two-hour, no visitors allowed time, this nurse asked how we were holding up. I started crying again and told her that I was not comfortable leaving my son. She said she understood that and she would keep a close eye on him, and that he would be okay. She made me feel comfortable enough to give me the strength to leave him for two hours. It was not an easy task, given what had happened several hours prior.

The next day she was his nurse again in the ICU. My husband and I were thrilled. She knew what had happened the day prior, so she was very aware of our state of mind. She was very patient with us and our feelings. She went above and beyond trying to make us feel as comfortable as she could, not only by her kind words and reassurances, but by her actions. She made sure we were comfortable sitting in the room, always asking not only my son if he needed anything but us, his parents as well. Several tests later, we were told by the doctor that my son would be okay, but he wanted to keep him in ICU just one more night. This nurse continuously checked on us to make sure we were comfortable not only physically but mentally as well.

That time at night came again when we had to leave for the mandatory two-hour, no visitors period. This nurse told us that she was off the next day and wanted to say bye to us before we left and assured us that our son was going to be okay and in good hands. We were sad we would not see this nurse the next day, but extremely grateful she was our son's nurse for the two full days he was in ICU. Our son was discharged the next morning. Our unexpected extended stay in the hospital was a rollercoaster of emotions, to say the least. We are forever grateful to the nurses who worked the day shift and took excellent care of our son.

And just when we thought the kindness and compassion were at an end (since we had been discharged and are now at home), it continued. This nurse called my son the following day after his discharge. She called him to check in on him. She wanted to know how he was feeling and if he had any questions or concerns now that he was home. I am blown away - in a most positive, happy way. That a very busy nurse would take the time to reach out and call a patient to check up on him is astonishing. Not only did she make my son feel comfortable in the hospital, but now out of the hospital as well. Thank you, thank you!