
Katherine Calimlim
February 2025
Katherine
Calimlim
,
RN
Thornton 2 West
UC San Diego Health
La Jolla
,
CA
United States
Her quick recognition and activation of the stroke code enabled the patient to celebrate his son’s big day after his extraordinary journey of resilience.
Katherine Calimlim is truly a gem. She takes the time to know her patients and enjoys assisting them with their nightly routines to prepare for bed. During one interaction with a patient, she noticed something was off when he was brushing his teeth in the bathroom. Katherine observed that the left side of his face was drooping, a clear sign of a stroke. The patient reported he was unable to raise his left arm and leg. Being the diligent nurse she is, she immediately called a stroke code and swiftly got the patient to CT. The results confirmed an ischemic stroke, allowing the patient to undergo an emergent thrombectomy.
Katherine was aware that the patient planned to be discharged the next morning to attend his son's wedding. Her quick recognition and activation of the stroke code enabled the patient to celebrate his son’s big day after his extraordinary journey of resilience. The patient and his family expressed deep gratitude for the lifesaving stroke care he received from the care team initiated by Katherine's quick thinking.
The patient made a remarkable recovery following his successful neurosurgery and quickly regained his strength. Within a few days, his care team assessed his progress concerning both his stroke and heart condition, determining he was ready to be discharged from the hospital, just in time for his son's wedding that evening.