February 2017
Margie
Kelly
,
RN
Progressive Care Unit
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Glen Burnie
,
MD
United States
We have an 88-year-old patient on our unit that has no family. She was brought in with syncope/AMS secondary to hypoxia and bacteremia. Because she was brought to the hospital in a rush and was disoriented, she did not have time to grab things that most women would make sure they have...their dentures, eyeglasses, and purse.
The first angelic thing Margie did was go to the women's home to get her dentures and her eyeglasses. The patient lives in an assisted living facility and arranged for someone to let Margie in to get these two essentials. Margie brought them to the hospital, visited with the patient and left her phone number for the patient to call if she needs her. The story continues. Days later, when the patient became more alert, she remembered she didn't have her purse. Margie met the patient's friend to obtain the key to the house. When Margie arrived, the animal rescue team was there to take the patient's dogs to the shelter. So, Margie left the house with the patient's purse and two dogs. She brought the purse to the patient, which of course the patient is extremely grateful. Most would have stopped there but not Margie. She and her family are now caring for this patient's pets until she is released from the hospital. That is so awesome because these dogs are her family. She can heal knowing they are being carried for in her absence.
The story continues with Margie being recognized on Facebook by Friends of Anne Arundel County Animal Control, Inc. in Millersville, Maryland for rescuing one of the dogs after he got loose and was attacked and had to be nursed by her and a friend as he had stitches and drains resulting from his injuries. This is what they had to say:
There's a lump in my throat, and it's there thanks to the woman in pink in this photo -- a nurse at Baltimore Washington Medical Center whose devotion to her patients clearly goes far beyond the call of duty. It's a convoluted and still unfinished story, so hang on for the ride:
Last month, this nurse went to the home of a hospitalized 88-year-old to pick up the patient's dentures. The patient also asked the nurse to check on her two Yorkies, Scooter and Lucky. The patient thought her neighbors were caring for them -- but they weren't. The dogs had been taken to AACAC, where they were being held in "protective custody" until their owner could take them back. But the owner was not likely to be able to continue to care for them, so the nurse offered to keep them at her own house until a permanent home could be found. The patient agreed and gave AACAC permission to release the dogs to the nurse. Last Tuesday, the nurse found what seemed to be a great forever home for Scooter and Lucky, who left together to live with a friend of a friend. That, the nurse figured, was the end of her involvement.
But it wasn't. On Friday, a very battered Scooter appeared once more at AACAC. According to a witness, Scooter, running loose by himself without a collar -- but identifiable by his microchip -- had been severely attacked by a large dog. Friends of AACAC paid for Scooter to go to Howard County Animal Hospital, which treated his many bite wounds and inserted six drains in his tiny, 10-year-old body. Today, Scooter left AACAC with the nurse and another of her friends to mend at home -- the nurse's home. Last we heard, the nurse was on her way this afternoon to pick up Lucky from the person who had recommended the dogs' adopter. What will happen next to Lucky and Scooter? Stay tuned!
P.S.: Thank you yet again to Howard County Animal Hospital, which stayed open late to treat Scooter and so generously discounted Friends of AACAC's bill, and to all our supporters whose donations allow us to pay for vet care for injured animals like Scooter.
This story started in 2016 and continues as Margie is still visiting with the patient at an assisted living facility and talking to her on a regular basis. Margie continues to keep and care for both dogs. Margie, the patient, and the dogs are now family.
While I know Margie's reward is in Heaven, she deserves recognition for her extraordinary compassionate care with this DAISY Award. This is why I'm proud to be a nurse, this is what our profession is all about!
The first angelic thing Margie did was go to the women's home to get her dentures and her eyeglasses. The patient lives in an assisted living facility and arranged for someone to let Margie in to get these two essentials. Margie brought them to the hospital, visited with the patient and left her phone number for the patient to call if she needs her. The story continues. Days later, when the patient became more alert, she remembered she didn't have her purse. Margie met the patient's friend to obtain the key to the house. When Margie arrived, the animal rescue team was there to take the patient's dogs to the shelter. So, Margie left the house with the patient's purse and two dogs. She brought the purse to the patient, which of course the patient is extremely grateful. Most would have stopped there but not Margie. She and her family are now caring for this patient's pets until she is released from the hospital. That is so awesome because these dogs are her family. She can heal knowing they are being carried for in her absence.
The story continues with Margie being recognized on Facebook by Friends of Anne Arundel County Animal Control, Inc. in Millersville, Maryland for rescuing one of the dogs after he got loose and was attacked and had to be nursed by her and a friend as he had stitches and drains resulting from his injuries. This is what they had to say:
There's a lump in my throat, and it's there thanks to the woman in pink in this photo -- a nurse at Baltimore Washington Medical Center whose devotion to her patients clearly goes far beyond the call of duty. It's a convoluted and still unfinished story, so hang on for the ride:
Last month, this nurse went to the home of a hospitalized 88-year-old to pick up the patient's dentures. The patient also asked the nurse to check on her two Yorkies, Scooter and Lucky. The patient thought her neighbors were caring for them -- but they weren't. The dogs had been taken to AACAC, where they were being held in "protective custody" until their owner could take them back. But the owner was not likely to be able to continue to care for them, so the nurse offered to keep them at her own house until a permanent home could be found. The patient agreed and gave AACAC permission to release the dogs to the nurse. Last Tuesday, the nurse found what seemed to be a great forever home for Scooter and Lucky, who left together to live with a friend of a friend. That, the nurse figured, was the end of her involvement.
But it wasn't. On Friday, a very battered Scooter appeared once more at AACAC. According to a witness, Scooter, running loose by himself without a collar -- but identifiable by his microchip -- had been severely attacked by a large dog. Friends of AACAC paid for Scooter to go to Howard County Animal Hospital, which treated his many bite wounds and inserted six drains in his tiny, 10-year-old body. Today, Scooter left AACAC with the nurse and another of her friends to mend at home -- the nurse's home. Last we heard, the nurse was on her way this afternoon to pick up Lucky from the person who had recommended the dogs' adopter. What will happen next to Lucky and Scooter? Stay tuned!
P.S.: Thank you yet again to Howard County Animal Hospital, which stayed open late to treat Scooter and so generously discounted Friends of AACAC's bill, and to all our supporters whose donations allow us to pay for vet care for injured animals like Scooter.
This story started in 2016 and continues as Margie is still visiting with the patient at an assisted living facility and talking to her on a regular basis. Margie continues to keep and care for both dogs. Margie, the patient, and the dogs are now family.
While I know Margie's reward is in Heaven, she deserves recognition for her extraordinary compassionate care with this DAISY Award. This is why I'm proud to be a nurse, this is what our profession is all about!