I can only imagine everyone feels like their life is lost when they have a loved one in the ICU. When I got the call that my dad, had to be airlifted not once, but twice, I knew I needed to come home. I knew the great reputation of this hospital, but I now know so much of that comes from the wonderful RNs who are on the SICU floor. We have been blessed to have a wonderful group of people taking care of my dad. One person will always stand out in my memory of this experience and that is Shelby! I am so protective of my "pops" which left me feeling guarded about who would be caring for him. Shelby stood out with her compassionate approach. After a couple of days, I really felt like Shelby was a part of our family. She would always check in with the family to see if we had questions, especially after we'd meet with a team of doctors. With her help, I never felt overwhelmed by the information. Shelby always spoke to my dad like a person, not just a patient. The compassion she demonstrated made me feel like I could breathe through this whole journey. I was worried that if I left no one would be here to advocate for my dad, even if I was just leaving for an hour. Shortly into Shelby's first day with my dad, I could see her passion for her job. When the teams would come in to consult, she was verbal and well versed in everything about my dad's case. It was then that I knew my dad had more than just his family advocating for him. I knew my dad would be okay because of Shelby. She didn't need to know my dad to give him the love and care he needed.
Being here feels like the worst thing ever because of the pain we feel for our loved ones. Shelby is who I will remember from this experience, not the pain or struggle. I don't know if I could ever possibly say a full Thank You to that amazing woman. We wouldn't have survived our stay without her extraordinary care! She is a true DAISY Nurse.