One night, I received a patient critically ill with a leaking mesh from an old AAA. The most important thing to that patient at that moment was to see his wife of 56 years and tell her, "I love you." He informed us that his wife had a stroke and was unable to speak on the phone. My wonderful co-worker Laura made every effort to find the phone number of the patient's brother-in-law. When she contacted him he did not have a cell phone number or internet access to get directions to the hospital.I listened as I overheard Laura very patiently explain to him over the phone turn by turn directions to WakeMed from Smithfield that she looked up on MapQuest.
It was because of her kindness and effort that my patient (who by the way miraculously made it through surgery) got to see his wife and say "I will see you someday soon, I love you." My patient informed me that his wife could not produce tears because of her stroke at which point I was doing enough crying for both of them. We don't get to see our miracles everyday but this day was one of them and Laura helped make that happen for this special couple.